§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he proposes to take to reduce truancy rates in schools.
§ Mr. Fallon[pursuant to the reply, 15 April 1991, columns 51–52]: My right hon. and learned Friend and his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales have today laid before Parliament regulations on pupil registration and the publication of information about rates of unauthorised absence. These require that from the 441W beginning of the next school year, schools distinguish in their attendance registers between authorised and unauthorised absences of pupils of compulsory school age and from August 1992 maintained schools' prospectuses and annual reports include specified information on rates of unauthorised absence.
These regulations have been laid after a two-month consultation period in which widespread support was expressed for our proposed action on school attendance. They will stimulate all schools to give a high priority to attendance. Schools in turn should be able to look to parents to shoulder their responsibilities to secure their children's attendance at school.