§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to ensure that(a) proper records are kept on exclusions of pupils from schools and (b) reliable data are available on an annual basis for both indefinite and permanent exclusion of pupils from schools.
§ Mr. ForthThe Department has been collecting information on permanent exclusions from LEA and grant-maintained schools over a two-year period starting with the summer term 1990 under the national exclusions reporting system (NERS). The purpose of NERS is to provide a basis on which to review the working of the existing statutory procedures on exclusions. The information received is currently being analysed. The need for any further monitoring will be considered in the context of the overall review.