§ Lord Ouseleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there is a correlation between children out of school and incidents of anti-social behaviour and criminal activity. [HL4231]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland)A number of studies have found that pupils who truant or are excluded from school are significantly more likely to commit offences than other pupils. During a six-month study the Metropolitan Police found that 5 per cent of all offences were committed by children during school hours. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills recently announced a £66 million package of measures to tackle behaviour and truancy issues, targeted on a number of schools in local education authorities with high crime and high truancy figures. The package will ensure that all excluded pupils are engaged in full-time educational activity.