HC Deb 20 November 2002 vol 394 c148W
Mr. Ivan Henderson

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the levels of truancy in Essex in each year since 1997. [80891]

Mr. Miliband

Percentage of half days missed due to unauthorised absence in maintained primary and secondary schools in Essex since 1997.

Year Primary schools Secondary schools
1996–97 0.4 0.8
1997–98 0.4 0.8
1998–99 0.4 0.9
1999–2000 0.3 0.9
2000–01 0.4 0.8
2001–021 0.4 0.9
1 Early statistics

The 1997 figures for Essex are not directly comparable with the later years because of the local government reorganisation that took place in 1998.