The Tory Party will scrap the government's controversial ContactPoint child database if elected.

The database, with entries for every child in England and Wales, has been repeatedly delayed and attacked by data protection groups. It was originally due to go live in April of this year, then October. It is now meant to be ready by January of next year. It was originally proposed following the review on data sharing for at-risk children after the murder of Victoria Climbié.

Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove told the Daily Telegraph: "ContactPoint can never be secure. We are taking this action because we are determined to protect vulnerable children from abuse - ContactPoint would increase that risk. The government has proved that it cannot be trusted to set up large databases, and cannot promise that inappropriate people would not be able to access the database."

Gove said the Tories would propose a smaller database for children moving from one local authority to another, if there were concerns. He said it would be irresponsible to implement a database which was likely to pose a danger to children.

The news will be officially released tomorrow after a Tory Party conference speech by Michael Gove.

Tory Party press officers were unable to provide more details before that speech is given. Though given that Gove has already spilled the beans, it seems the Tories also have a few lessons to learn in protecting data.®

Related stories

• Analysis ContactPoint goes live despite security fears (17 May 2009)
• Doubt cast over ContactPoint security assurances (23 April 2009)
• ContactPoint rollout grinds to a halt, again (24 March 2009)
• ContactPoint will cost more than thought (12 March 2009)
• UK.gov opens up delayed child protection database (26 January 2009)
• Comment Is the UK.gov IT gravy train heading for the buffers? (12 January 2009)
• Corrupt cop abused police database to blackmail child abusers (20 December 2008)
• Tens of thousands of kids need to be protected from ContactPoint users (14 November 2008)
• Comment How the gov's child protection database fails to add up (12 November 2008)
• Exclusive UK's 'secure' child protection database will be open to one million (12 November 2008)
• UK.gov apologises for Tory-bashing child database memo (5 November 2008)
• Exclusive Civil servants' pro-Labour memo reignites child data controversy (23 October 2008)
• Home Office defends retaining comms data (9 October 2008)
• Tories plan streamlined children's database (8 October 2008)
• Tories would decentralise NHS IT (30 September 2008)
• Government kids database under fire, again (3 September 2008)
• UK.gov child data-sharing scheme delayed (again) (29 August 2008)
• 'Child protection' database slammed as plod data mine (26 August 2008)
• Deloitte flags risks of UK child database (22 February 2008)
• UK database of children delayed (28 November 2007)