§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his most recent estimate of the number of children of school age in Scotland who do not attend school for reasons associated with behavioural problems; and if will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonFigures for non-attendance at and exclusions from schools for reasons associated with behavioural problems are not held centrally; nor is sufficient information centrally available on which to base informed estimates.
Regulations which came into force in 1993 now require education authorities to collect information on schools attendance and truancy. This information will be published in school handbooks from December 1994 and will also be the subject of report by the audit unit of Her Majesty's inspectorate. Discussions are currently proceeding with education authorities about the collection of exclusion figures across Scotland on a consistent basis.