Conservatives will shut down ContactPoint database

The database is due to launch next year and will contain the details of every child living in England. Its rollout has already been delayed twice (CYP Now, 3- 10 September).

The Conservatives are worried that information held on the system could be exploited by paedophiles and believe that there is a danger of sensitive data being mislaid or lost.

Michael Gove, the shadow schools secretary, told The Daily Telegraph: "We are taking this action because we are determined to protect vulnerable children from abuse. ContactPoint would increase that risk.

"The government has proved that it cannot be trusted to set up large databases and cannot promise that inappropriate people would be able to access the database.

It would be irresponsible to implement something that is such a danger to our children."

Gove is expected to announce the end of the database project in his keynote speech tomorrow (Tuesday).