DfES considers plan on linked databases

Databases containing details of all UK minors, proposed in the Children's Bill, will need a cross-government approach, says the Department for Education and Skills (DfES).

Just two weeks after the issue of uncoordinated public sector database projects was highlighted by Computing, the DfES has acknowledged the need to take existing projects, such as the Office of National Statistics' Citizen Information Project, into account when developing its strategy.

The department's aim is to keep track of potential problems by creating a series of linked databases developed by local authorities and nationally accessible to authorised users.

The plan is included in the Children's Bill published by the government last week and expected to be passed by Parliament this year.

'We need to have a database that includes all children and young people to ensure that all children receive the universal services to which they are entitled and so that practitioners are aware of children with specialised needs before they reach crisis stage,' said a DfES spokesman.

'We are clear that a unique identifying number is needed, but are not yet ready to specify what this should be. We need to take a cross-government approach, taking account of new developments.'