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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Parents of truants to have benefits docked | Parents of truants to have benefits docked |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 would be claimed through child benefit if the fine is not paid after 28 days. Currently, 40% of fines go unpaid. |
| David Cameron told BBC Breakfast it was about making sure children get "the great start in life that they need". | David Cameron told BBC Breakfast it was about making sure children get "the great start in life that they need". |
| Teaching unions said docking child benefit could end up hurting children. | Teaching unions said docking child benefit could end up hurting children. |
| Follow live coverage of the Conservative Party conference | Follow live coverage of the Conservative Party conference |
| 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. | 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. |
| David Cameron said the system must be changed because truancy was harmful to children's life chances. | David Cameron said the system must be changed because truancy was harmful to children's life chances. |
| "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. | "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." | "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. | 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." | "So for parents who let their child play truant and refuse to pay truancy penalties, we will deduct it from their child benefit." |
| Care requests | Care 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. | 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. | "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..." | "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. |