§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school days were lost due to truancy in Lancashire in each year since 1997. [90741]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisThe number of school days lost due to truancy in Lancashire since 1997 are as follows:
Academic year (September-May) Number of day pupils of compulsory school age Number of school days lost due to truancy 1996–971 201,219 176,296 1997–98 159,143 129,313 1998–99 162,583 150,654 1999–2000 162,979 140,519 2000–01 160,768 135,585 2001–02 159,398 136,053 1The figures for 1996–97 are pre local government reorganisation and are not directly comparable with the other years.