§ Mr. RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many female pupils were excluded from school because of pregnancy in England between 1980 to 2000; and if he will make a statement; [140542]
(2) if he will list the 10 education authorities with (a) the highest and (b) the lowest percentage rates of school exclusions because of pregnancy; and if he will make a statement. [140483]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 27 November 2000]: The detailed information requested by my hon. Friend is not held centrally by the Department. The latest information on permanent exclusions will be published later this week in a Statistical Bulletin, a copy of which will be placed in the Library.
The DfEE issued guidance in 1999 to all local education authorities and schools, which made it clear that pregnancy on its own was not a reason for exclusion from school.
In addition to our drive to cut truancy and school exclusions, we are also working to cut teenage pregnancy rates and to reduce the social exclusion often experienced by teenage parents and their children. We are issuing some guidance to help schools to support teenage parents in school. We are also funding reintegration work in selected LEAs to help girls back in to education after they have had their baby.