Many families find it hard to take a break during school holidays

The average proportion of pupils away at any time fell to 6.17% from 6.68% the previous year, figures show.

However, Mr Twigg admitted this had been achieved mostly by being "tougher" on parents in England who took their children on holiday during term time.

Shadow Education Secretary Tim Collins said the government had "demonstrably failed to reduce unauthorised absence".

'Tough nut'

During Commons education question time, Mr Twigg said: "The big fall we've seen in the last two years has primarily been for authorised absences, where schools are taking a tougher stance."

But the government had spent �11.5m on measures to improve attendance since 1997.

Mr Twigg said: "It is a very tough nut to crack and I think that is acknowledged across the board.

"We want to have maximum attendance in schools and you have to accept we now have attendance in schools at record levels."

Mr Collins said: "The government's done the easy bit, which is reducing authorised absence, but you have demonstrably failed to reduce unauthorised absence."

He added: "Wouldn't clearer signals over pupil behaviour and drug usage from this government actually help rather than just having all talk on this matter?"

Earlier this month, Geraint Davies, secretary of the NASUWT teachers' union in Wales, said travel during term time could teach children a "great deal".