Child benefit to be docked from families who don’t pay truanting fines

If this doubled fine remains unpaid after 28 days, the government plans to take it directly from the parent/guardian’s child benefit.

Figures obtained earlier this year by the Press Association showed that 16,430 people in England were prosecuted last year for failing to ensure that a child went to school – with around three-quarters (12,479) found guilty.

“We are also determined to tackle the harm truancy does to a child’s chances in life”, Cameron said. Meanwhile, higher earning parents who do not receive child benefit but still fail to pay the fines could face debt recovery through the courts, the PM explained.

But it is his plan to dock child benefit to parents of truants that could prove more controversial, with fresh legislation to allow HM Customs & Excise to automatically take fines, changes to data law and a new duty on councils to pursue civil penalties. But 40 per cent of parents refuse to pay up, and councils are often reluctant to go to court. This fine increases to £120 if the parent/guardian fails to pay it within three weeks. In an interview with the BBC, she said: “For a few families all that this will do, of course, is increase the chaos and it will increase the deprivation”.

He said: “We all know the evidence that if you don’t attend school regularly you get a less good education, you get worse results, as a result your job prospects are much much worse and as a result your life chances – the opportunities you have to make the most of your talents – are severely reduced”.

Mr Cameron’s plans are expected to save councils money by avoiding the legal costs of taking parents to court.

The prime minister also announced a new right for parents in England to request that schools provide breakfast and after-school clubs or holiday care.

Speaking ahead of Education Secretary Nicky Morgan’s keynote speech to the Conservative party conference, Mr Cameron said also unveiled a new “right to request” childcare for parents of school-age children. Heads would have to publish the reasons if they refused.

Schools do not have to sign up to the scheme but they will be asked by the Government to account for why they don’t want to support childcare providers using their facilities.

The right to request will apply to all state-maintained primary schools, academies and free schools.