Next month, the government was due to begin the roll-out of ContactPoint. But late last week it emerged the new information sharing database for children will now be delayed until January 2009 because of technical glitches revealed in testing.
When ContactPoint finally does go live, it will mark a big step forward for the system, which throughout its development has been dogged by concerns over the inherent security risks of placing details of around 11 million children on a centralised database.
These fears were thrown into sharp relief when, last November, HM Revenue & Customs lost two computer discs containing the records of 25 million child benefit claimants. Ever since, there has been a string of individuals and organisations lining up to voice their doubts over the safety of the scheme, from the Information Commissioner Richard Thomas to Shami Chakrabarti, director of human rights group Liberty.
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