§ Dr. Mawhinneyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, pursuant to the answer of 23 March, Official Report, c. 440, he will publish so much information as he has available about truancy through Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools and from local education authorities; and if he will list the local education authorities that have provided information about truancy in each of the past five years.
§ Dr. BoysonMy right hon. Friend shares the hon. Member's concern in this matter. However, the information from Her Majesty's Inspectorate is made available to the Department in a variety of ways and is not in a readily publishable form. Most authorities have provided, either directly to the Department or through Her Majesty's Inspectorate, some commentary or information about school attendance in their areas over the last five years, though not on a sufficiently consistent basis to allow comparisons.