Education ministers are set to renew their drive to crack down on truant pupils, parliament has heard.

The education secretary will lead a renewed drive to prevent children causing a nuisance on the nation's streets.

New enforcement guidelines and a national advertising campaign targeting truants are to be introduced in the short term.

Ministers will also consider new powers and support for education welfare officers.

But it remains unclear whether ministers will move to fine or cut the benefits of parents who allow their children to skip school.

Clarke has emphasised his determination to tackle the problem, warning that truancy damages a child's prospects as well as being a major risk factor in anti-social behaviour.

The government points to tough action already announced - with police officers being located in the toughest schools and "truancy sweeps" to be extended across the country.

Minister are set to go further, however, promising "more effective action against parents who refuse to take their responsibilities seriously".

The government has stepped back from allowing police and education welfare officers to fine parents whose children are absent from their classes without a valid excuse.

In an interview with the Times on Tuesday, Clarke spoke of his determination to stop "malcontents wrecking classes".

"We need to have a situation where there is order in class and where sanctions are taken against children who do not respect that order," he told the newspaper.

Shadow education secretary Damien Green accused the government of launching yet another "gimmick".

"Last week they floated the idea of instant fines for parents of truanting children but already they are backing away from this," he said.

Child poverty campaigners are warning against sanctions against parents.

"Taking child benefit from the parents of truants would be an unprecedented assault on children's benefits. Reducing the income of families living in poverty is not going to make the difficult job of parenting any easier," warned the Child Poverty Action Group.

"Removing benefits for children would not sit comfortably with the prime minister's personal pledge to eradicate child poverty."

The Queen also announced that ministers will press ahead with their overhaul of secondary education - although new legislation appears unlikely this session.

The speech included a commitment to offer parents and pupils "choice through greater diversity".

With the government insisting that education remains its "number one priority", reforming the comprehensive system will be the focus of a drive to raise standards.

An education act, already passed, will allow popular schools to expand and specialise in subject areas such as music or sports.

Ministers say they will "free schools to lead change themselves".

There will also be greater use of classroom assistants and moves to cut red tape for teachers.

From October 2002, schools have new powers to innovate and develop their own plans to raise standards.

"Secondary school reform will continue to promote opportunity and choice through greater diversity for parents and pupils," said an education spokesman.