§ Baroness Blatchasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many parents have been found guilty and fined in connection with the offence of non-attendacne at school; and [HL2404]
38WAWhat is the average fine for parents found guilty in connection with the offence of non-attendance at school; and [HL2405]
How many parents have received the maximum fine of £2,500 in connection with the offence of non-attendance at school. [HL2406]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone)We estimate that local education authorities undertake around 9,000 prosecutions a year of parents whose children are not attending school regularly. But in 80 per cent of cases, parents do not turn up in court and are fined in their absence. To challenge this culture amongst some parents that education is not important, we are proposing the rise in the level of the offence for nonattendance at school. More detailed information on the numbers found guilty and average fines is, however, not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.