The obligation to pay taxes is a general one. In general, tax receipts go into the ‘Consolidated Fund’ and taxes are not earmarked to any particular purpose.

I do appreciate that not all taxpayers make direct use of every service provided by the government, and that parents who choose to educate their children at home are one example of this. However, a similar argument for a tax refund could be made by anyone who does not use a publicly provided service, or some aspect of that service, including those who are not parents. Primary and secondary education is primarily funded through general taxation, irrespective of usage, and not through charging users.

The information requested is not collected by the Department for Education.

The information requested is not held by the Department.

[holding answer 25 March 2013]: Information on the numbers and ages of home educated children is not collected by the Department for Education.

Parents are responsible for ensuring that their children receive a suitable education. Parents and local authorities should recognise each other's rights and responsibilities, and work together. Local authorities have no statutory duties in relation to monitoring the quality of home education on a routine basis, and the Department does not collect information on local practice. An authority which is satisfied that a child of compulsory school age is not receiving suitable full-time education must serve a school attendance order on the child's parents.

All Department for Education Ministers share collective responsibility for all areas of the Department for Education's interests.

Within the Department for Education, the Under-Secretary of State for Education, my hon. Friend the Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mr Timpson), has responsibility for disabled children. The Under-Secretary of State for Skills, my hon. Friend the Member for West Suffolk (Matthew Hancock), has responsibility for international policy and employer engagement while I have responsibility for bullying, the United Nations Convention on Human Rights of the Child, home education and young carers.

Issues such as families policy, children and young people's health and wellbeing (drugs, alcohol, teenage pregnancy, obesity); and the community and voluntary sector impact on and influence many of the Department's policies and objectives. All Department for Education Ministers share collective responsibility for these areas, as and when they interact with their particular ministerial portfolios.

A more comprehensive published list of individual ministerial responsibilities can be found on the Departmental for Education website at:

https://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/departmentalinformation/ministerialteam

The published list of individual ministerial responsibilities does not cover everything Ministers do, but provides a guide to some of Ministers' key individual areas of responsibility.

The Department for Education does not collect information on the number of children being home educated. This Government wants schools to take firm action against bullying and prevent it from occurring in the first place. To help schools, this Government has strengthened teachers' powers to tackle poor behaviour and bullying through the Education Act 2011, and updated our advice to schools on preventing and tackling bullying.

The Department for Education does not provide specific support to severely-bullied children who are not attending school. Schools, and where appropriate local authorities and other agencies, are best placed to support victims of bullying who cannot, or do not wish to, attend school. In such circumstances the emphasis should be on working with the pupil and parents to support a successful reintegration to school.

[holding answer 8 November 2012]: Parents who home educate their children have always taken on the full responsibility for their education. The Department does not provide local authorities with financial support for home educated children except where a child has special educational needs. Where local authorities provide significant support to a home educated child with special educational needs, they can claim funding through the Dedicated Schools Grant.

[holding answer 8 November 2012]: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has no plans to commission a study into the benefits of home education.

[holding answer 8 November 2012]: The Department for Education has received correspondence on home education from home educating parents and children, local authorities, and members of the public.

The Government respects the right of parents to educate their children at home. Parents who home educate their children have always taken on the full responsibility for their education. Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that provision set out in statements for children with special educational needs is met, including for those who are home educated. Local authorities also have wider duties towards children in their area who have special educational needs, and can support home educators in providing for such children. From 2013-14, parents of home educated young people wishing to send their child to a further education college will be able to register directly with the college without needing to seek the agreement of the local authority.

[holding answer 8 November 2012]: The Department for Education respects the right of parents to educate their children at home. The current arrangements strike the right balance between the responsibilities of the parent and the state. We have no plans to change that position, however, the Education Select Committee is inquiring into support for home education and we will consider the Committee's report in due course.

[holding answer 8 November 2012]: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has made no assessment of the benefits of home education. Parents are responsible for ensuring their child receives an education that is suitable to their age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs they may have.