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The government’s plan for a database covering all children and not just those at risk to be created could be made clearer in the Children Bill, writes Amy Taylor.

Sure Start minister Cathy Ashton said that she hoped to make the ‘universality’ of the database clearer on the face of the Bill in a response to a letter from the Select Committee on the Constitution.

The letter highlights that the intention is only made clear in the explanatory notes accompanying the Bill rather than the Bill itself. It states that ‘at the very least’ the plan should have been ‘indicated expressly’ by the government.

Ashton said that the current drafting of the information databases section of bill is intended to include all children.

If passed government amendments due to be debated in the House of Lords next week in report stage will change the Bill to contain the types of information that can be kept on each child.

The amendment lists information including a child’s name, address, date of birth, and a specific number identifying them. It also states that ‘information as to the existence of any cause for concern’ in relation to the child should be contained on the database together with the names and contact details of professionals providing them with services.