Our crackdown on truancy will continue at a pace with this significant investment

Jacqui Smith, Schools Minister

But, giving details of individual funding allocations to local authorities on Wednesday, the government said it was now winning the battle against absenteeism.

And it claimed that anti-truancy schemes already in place showed that such targeted education spending could produce a substantial reduction in youth crime rates.

In the city of York youth crime figures had fallen by 67% after truancy watch schemes were introduced, claimed the Schools Minister Jacqui Smith.

All children in the city centre during school hours have been asked by anti-truancy patrols to explain why they are not in class.

Even children accompanied by adults are challenged, as research has shown that much truancy takes place with the consent of parents.

Crime statistics have previously shown a close link between truancy and youngsters committing offences - and by removing children from the streets the government believes that it can reduce the risk of youngsters drifting into crime.

The money announced on Wednesday will be used to fund more truancy sweeps where police and education welfare officers pick up youngsters who should be in school.

It will pay for more schemes to encourage greater parental and community awareness of truancy and will allow more schools to employ "learning mentors" to improve attendance and tackle bullying and disaffection.

Learning mentors provide individual support for pupils who have problems inside or outside school which are interfering with their education.

Off-site pupil referral units will also be supported, providing a full-time education for youngsters with behavioural problems.

'Truancy buster'

Schools which succeed in cutting truancy in challenging circumstances will win "truancy buster" awards of up to �10,000.

Ms Smith said too many school children were missing school and cutting their chances of success in life as a result.

"Some schools are raising attendance levels, but more needs to be done to reduce significantly the 50,000 pupils away from school without permission on any given day," she said.

"Our crackdown on truancy will continue at a pace with this significant investment.

"The increased funds for 2001-02 will allow schools and local authorities to set up more innovative projects to improve school attendance."

'Disruptive minority'

But shadow education secretary, Theresa May, said Labour had failed to tackle disaffection and truancy.

"Far from tackling indiscipline, Labour's insistence on keeping disruptive pupils in the classroom - in order to meet their social inclusion agenda - means far too many children's education is suffering due to a disruptive minority.

"Under the Conservative Party's free schools policy, schools would have the freedom to provide a curriculum to tackle disaffection.

"Schools need the freedom to expel disruptive pupils and let the majority get on with their education," she added.