Written question asked by Tim Loughton (Conservative) on Wednesday, 5 September 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 12 September 2007. It was answered by Lord Knight of Weymouth (Labour) on Monday, 17 September 2007 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Truancy

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) when and for what reasons the decision to end nationally co-ordinated truancy sweeps was taken;

Answer: [holding answer 12 September 2007]: The Department began co-ordinating voluntary twice-yearly national truancy sweeps in May 2002. Each sweep focused local authority activity within the three-week period on which our data collections were based.We took the decision in January 2007 to end this national co-ordination and data collection. Many local authorities had by then established local sweeps which were better aligned to local police service schedules, operating more frequently and effectively than within a centrally prescribed three-week period.Having given local authorities the flexibility to make more effective local arrangements, we do not attempt to closely monitor these but instead gather and share their effective practice with others. Since April 2007, police community service officers have the power to remove absentee pupils from a public place. Later this month, we will publish updated guidance on effective practice in planning and undertaking truancy sweeps to reflect these powers.

Secondary information