In the news: Parents of truants must pay fines, or have benefits cut (6/10/2015)

Prime minister David Cameron has announced plans to deduct truancy fines from the child benefits of parents who fail to pay them. Currently, two fifths of fines go unpaid as LAs fail to take legal action against parents of persistent absentees.

Last reviewed on 6 October 2015
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The prime minister has announced plans to cut the child benefit payments of parents who do not pay truancy fines, The Guardian reports.

The article explains that, currently, £60 truancy fines double to £120 if unpaid after 21 days, and parents can be prosecuted after 28 days. However, 40% of fines remain unpaid, as LAs may not take legal action.

It says that the proposed measures would deduct the fine from the child benefit payments of truants' parents, removing the need for LAs to take parents to court. However, LAs will reportedly face a new requirement to take legal action where parents are not eligible for child benefit payments.

However, the article quotes the NASUWT union's general secretary, Chris Keates, as saying that cutting benefit payments will contribute