Councils wary of ContactPoint planning following Tory pledge to scrap database
Neil Puffett
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Councils throughout England and Wales are doing the bare minimum to prepare for the controversial ContactPoint database believing it will be scrapped, it has been claimed.
The database will hold the details of more than 11 million childrenthroughout England and Wales in a bid to make it easier forpractitioners to find out who else is working with a child.
But Tory councillor Les Lawrence, who steps down as chair of the LocalGovernment Association's children and young people's board this week'said authorities are currently doing "no more and no less" than what isrequired prior to the planned national roll-out later this year.
The Conservatives have pledged to axe the 224m database shouldthey win the next general election.
"The general sentiment is that authorities are doing what is required ofthem by law," Lawrence said. "They won't spend additional money if theydon't have to."
A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families saidthe government was continuing to work closely with local authorities andwas making good progress on implementing ContactPoint.
In July, Children's Secretary Ed Balls claimed that Tim Loughton, shadowminister for children, was attempting to scupper plans forContactPoint.
Loughton admitted he had contacted councils, reminding them of hisparty's opposition to the database.