This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34450882

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Parents of truants to have benefits docked Parents of truants to have benefits docked
(about 1 hour later)
Parents in England who refuse to pay a penalty after their children play truant will have their child benefit docked, the prime minister is to say. Parents in England who refuse to pay a penalty after their children play truant will have their child benefit docked, the prime minister has said.
Currently 40% of those fined fail to pay and many avoid court because councils do not pursue legal action. A civil penalty of up to £120 would be claimed through child benefit if the fine is not paid after 28 days. Currently, 40% of fines go unpaid.
A civil penalty of up to £120 will now be claimed back through child benefit if the fine is not paid after 28 days. David Cameron told BBC Breakfast it was about making sure children get "the great start in life that they need".
But the NASUWT teaching union said fines could punish children, rather than adults who care for them. Teaching unions said docking child benefit could end up hurting children.
The existing system sees non-payment of the £60 civil penalty in England being doubled to £120 after 21 days and subject to prosecution after 28 days. Follow live coverage of the Conservative Party conference
Under the new regulations, councils will be obliged to pursue payment from those who do not receive child benefit, taking parents to court if necessary. 'Less good prospects'
David Cameron will argue that the system must be changed because truancy is harmful to children's chances in life, and he will say that docking child benefit will speed up the process. The existing system sees non-payment of the £60 civil penalty in England being doubled to £120 after 21 days, and subject to prosecution after 28 days. But many parents do not end up in court because councils do not take legal action.
He is set to say: "We are determined to tackle the harm truancy does to a child's chances in life. David Cameron said the system must be changed because truancy was harmful to children's life chances.
"There is nothing responsible about allowing your child to go without an education. So for parents who let their child play truant and refuse to pay truancy penalties, we will deduct it from their child benefit." "All the evidence is that if children consistently miss school, they get a worse education, they get worse results and as a result they have less good prospects for the rest of their lives," he told BBC Breakfast.
"So this is about making sure our children get the great future and the great start in life that they need."
At the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, he is expected to say: "There is nothing responsible about allowing your child to go without an education.
"So for parents who let their child play truant and refuse to pay truancy penalties, we will deduct it from their child benefit."
Care requestsCare requests
The Press Association says it obtained figures earlier this year which showed 16,430 people in England were prosecuted last year for failing to ensure that a child went to school.The Press Association says it obtained figures earlier this year which showed 16,430 people in England were prosecuted last year for failing to ensure that a child went to school.
About three-quarters - 12,479 - of these were found guilty, and courts issued 9,214 parents with fines worth an average of £172.About three-quarters - 12,479 - of these were found guilty, and courts issued 9,214 parents with fines worth an average of £172.
Mr Cameron first spoke of the idea of cutting benefits for parents of regular truants in September 2011.Mr Cameron first spoke of the idea of cutting benefits for parents of regular truants in September 2011.
And a key government adviser on school behaviour called for the same measure in April 2012.And a key government adviser on school behaviour called for the same measure in April 2012.
But Chris Keates, general secretary of the teachers union NASUWT, said docking benefits was not the answer.
"For some families all that this will do, of course, is increase the chaos and it will increase the deprivation," he said.
"It won't actually solve the problem and in the middle of all of this is a child who's not getting their entitlement to education..."
Meanwhile, the prime minister will also announce a new right for parents in England to request that schools provide breakfast and after-school clubs or holiday care.Meanwhile, the prime minister will also announce a new right for parents in England to request that schools provide breakfast and after-school clubs or holiday care.
Schools will not be obliged to provide these when asked, but will have to publish reasons why they do not respond to such requests from parents or childcare providers.Schools will not be obliged to provide these when asked, but will have to publish reasons why they do not respond to such requests from parents or childcare providers.
This will apply to all state-maintained primary schools, as well as new academies and free schools.This will apply to all state-maintained primary schools, as well as new academies and free schools.
Does your child play truant? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your opinions about the proposed fines.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
Or use the form below: