CYP Now - Information sharing - Child index could link to ID cards

The Treasury is thinking of linking the child index into the database behind the Government's ID cards scheme, it emerged last week.

Des Browne, the chief secretary to the Treasury, said the Governmentwill examine whether to use the information stored on the child indexfor other purposes.

The Treasury's decision follows a recommendation by the CitizenInformation Project, which examined how information sharing could beused by government to improve services and save money.

Under current laws the ID card database will not hold information onunder-16s and the child index can only be used for child protectionpurposes.

Any change would require new legislation.

However, Phil Booth, national co-ordinator of the pressure group No2ID,attacked the move as "cradle-to-grave surveillance".

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