§ Mr. BowisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the most recent figures for schooldays lost through truancy for(a) England and Wales, (b) inner London, (c) outer London, (d) Birmingham, (e) Greater Manchester, (f) Sheffield, (g) Liverpool, (h) Leeds and (i) Bradford; and if he will give them as a total and per head of school population.
§ Mrs. RumboldThis information is not available centrally. Under the Education Acts, the responsibility for taking action on truancy rests with local education authorities. It is they who should ensure that attendance levels in their schools are monitored and that action is taken to keep them under control.