§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Mid-Staffordshire on 21 June, Official Report, column 211, what information he has as to how many of the 54,000 juveniles under the age of 16 years found guilty of indictable offences in the year 1982–83 were recorded as having played truant from school at the time of the offence.
§ Mr. MellorInformation on truancy from school is not available in respect of those under the age of 16 found guilty of indictable offences, there were 54,000 such convictions in 1982 and 48,000 in 1983.