OVER the last few years, the Government has attempted to combat truancy by throwing money at the problem.

Since 1997, it has spent a whopping £885 million on various schemes to persuade reluctant pupils into school.

What difference has it made? Absolutely none.

The truancy rate in England and Wales is exactly the same today as it was seven years ago, at 0.7 per cent.

So now the Government is trying the opposite approach. This time the cash is going in the other direction, too, with £50 fines for parents whose children persistently skip school.

This seems fairer. Why should the majority of taxpayers who ensure their children get to school every day provide financial support for the minority who don't?

You could say it's unfair to penalise parents for the activities of their offspring.

But the fact is that a lot of truancy is carried out with the knowledge or collusion of parents.

Every time a parent decides to take their children shopping on a school day - and we've all seen them - or simply fails to get them out of bed, it costs us.

But from next week, it will cost them.

We feel certain that parents faced with the prospect of being £50 worse off will frogmarch their offspring to the school gate if necessary.

Parents and pupils alike should know that the days of the carrot alone are over - now it's time for the stick, too.