To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils were persistent absentees in each (a) local authority area and (b) constituency in each of the last 10 years. (324538)

Attendance data was collected at individual pupil level for the first time in 2005/06 from secondary schools only. Information on persistent absentees in secondary schools in 2005/06 at local authority level has been placed in the Library.

Information on persistent absentees in primary, secondary and special schools is available from 2006/07 onwards. Information at local authority level for 2006/07, 2007/08 and 2008/09, and parliamentary constituency level for 2007/08 and 2008/09 has been placed in the Library. To provide further information would incur disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the (a) rate of unauthorised absence and (b) number of day pupils of compulsory age was in each (i) local authority area and (ii) constituency in each of the last 10 years. (324539)

The available information for the years 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2003/04, 2007/08, and 2008/09 has been placed in the Libraries. To provide further information would incur disproportionate cost.