Written question asked by Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 June 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 10 June 2010. It was answered by Tim Loughton (Conservative) on Monday, 12 July 2010 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Children: Databases

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will place in the Library a copy of each representation he has received from (a) local authorities and (b) children's organisations on his Department's decision to end the ContactPoint database.

Answer: We have confirmed with local authorities and other partners our firm intention to end the ContactPoint database as soon as is practicable. Both coalition partners' manifestos included a clear commitment to scrap ContactPoint, to fulfil a longstanding policy commitment, discussed with a wide range of interested organisations in recent years. We have consistently opposed a database, which contains details about all children in England, accessed by hundreds of thousands of people and we signalled our opposition in debates on the original legislation in the 2004 Children Act.The Department has received no representations from local authorities or children's organisations on this Government's decision. We will however continue to engage with and draw on the views of a wide range of organisations as we consider the scope for a more proportionate approach to protecting children most in need.

Secondary information