§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what advice has been given to schools by his Department over requests from the Sikh community for a day's absence in April for their children in order the celebrate the 300th anniversary of the beginning of their religion. [69256]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeNone on this event as such. However, general advice on categorisation of absence was issued to schools in May 1994. This states that absence may be authorised where the pupil is absent on any day exclusively set aside for religious observance by the religious body to which the pupil's parents belong.