Written question asked by Harry Cohen (Labour) on Monday, 19 July 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 1 September 2004. It was answered by Baroness Hodge of Barking (Labour) on Wednesday, 1 September 2004 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether he intends to make (a) the pupil identification number and (b) the identifier used in relation to children in the Children Bill a general identifier as defined under the Data Protection Act 1998; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether he intends to make (a) the pupil identification number and (b) the identifier used in relation to children in the Children Bill a general identifier as defined under the Data Protection Act 1998; and if he will make a statement. [185955] Margaret Hodge: There are no current plans to make the pupil identification number a general identifier. A unique identifying number will be important for the successful operation of the databases for which provision is made in the Children Bill. Feasibility work is underway to identify the best source of such a unique identifying number. This will include advice as to whether the number will need to operate as a general identifier as described in the Data Protection Act 1998.

Secondary information