HC Deb 10 June 1997 vol 295 cc367-8W
Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his time scale for producing the planned video on education for travellers. [2760]

Ms Estelle Morris

This is one of a number of matters that are currently under consideration and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as a decision is reached.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of travellers' children currently of school age but not attending any school. [2761]

Ms Morris

Accurate data on Traveller children are difficult to collect. Through the work of the Traveller Education Services funded under section 488 of the Education Act 1996, significant progress has been made in improving school registration of traveller children. At primary level, in particular, about 80 per cent. of the total number are now registered at school, although an estimated 3–4,000 children are not. The picture at secondary level, while also improving, remains a matter of particular concern: an estimated 10,000 children are not registered at school.