asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the fact that teachers' strikes from time to time make it impossible for education authorities to comply with the law that children of school age be provided with education, he will require local education authorities to notify him of the places, dates, duration and numbers of children affected by industrial action taken by teachers.

No. This would not serve any useful purpose, as my powers under the Education Acts do not enable me to intervene in the event of industrial action.