Written question asked by Barry Gardiner (Labour) on Monday, 27 March 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 10 April 2000. It was answered by Charles Clarke (Labour) on Monday, 10 April 2000 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, What help he proposes to give schools and local authorities in combating truancy. (Failed OPQ).

Answer: Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what help he proposes to give schools and local authorities in combating truancy. [116814] Mr. Charles Clarke: Truancy is a major contributor to youth offending and can in itself have a devastating impact on a child's prospects for later life. That is why my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education has allocated extra resources through the Social Inclusion Pupil Support Grant Programme, worth some £500 million over three years, to help reduce levels of unauthorised absence and exclusion. Secondly, we are introducing as part of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill, an increase in penalty on parents for failing to ensure that a child attends school regularly. And, thirdly, we are considering actively whether we can encourage the type of scheme which is active in York, for example, where police, education welfare officers, and social services officers, work together as a team, to pick up children who are truant on the streets and bring them back into education.

Secondary information