Government plans for councils to create child index
databases are not likely to offer better protection to children at
risk, according to a group of MPs.
Following the death of Victoria Climbie at the hands of an
abusive aunt, and an enquiry into the tragedy by Lord Laming, the
government proposed that all councils set up a child index,
containing basic data about children in their care and the
professionals they come into contact with.
In a report published yesterday [April 5th], The House of
Commons Education and Skills Committee said, "The evidence we have
received has left us with doubts about whether investment in child
indexes can currently be justified in terms of the contribution it
is likely to make to improving outcomes for children."
The committee said uncertainty over the costs of building
databases, which one expert estimated could reach £1bn, combined
with the government's record on major IT projects were the main
sources of concern. Professional practice, rather than technology
for information sharing, was a major factor in the Climbie
tragedy.
"We are not convinced that sufficient evidence currently exists
to justify the commissioning of the proposed IT-based child
indexes," the report said. "We have significant reservations about
whether this will represent the best use of resources and very
significant concerns about critical issues such as security,
confidentiality and access arrangements.
"We are concerned in particular that the current research
evidence does not conclusively demonstrate that expenditure in this
area is the best way of improving outcomes for children."