§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest information he has on the levels of(a) truancy and (b) expulsions in primary and secondary schools.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsI refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 24 February, at column634, when I informed him that information on absence rates is not collected centrally although it is our intention for these details to be published on an individual school basis.
The Welsh Office has been monitoring permanent exclusions at maintained schools over a two-year period starting with the summer term 1990 under the national exclusions reporting system. Around 190 were permanently excluded in the period covered. Information on temporary exclusions is not collected by the Department.