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Online security concerns raised over government super-database

The British government's plans for a major new child information database have been placed on hold after fresh concerns were raised over potential online security issues.

Under the £224 million scheme, ministers are aiming to create a single database containing the names, ages, addresses, as well as parents' information and doctors' details of 11 million English children.

While the government has claimed that ContactPoint would be a vital resource in the fight to protect children from abuse, some critics have argued that such a collection of data would be illegal, while others have expressed a belief that there is no way such a large amount of data could be kept secure from online criminals.

Tim Loughton, the Shadow Children's Minister, said: "The Government has proved that it cannot be trusted to set up large databases or to keep our data secure.

"Despite serious and widespread concerns about the security, integrity and necessity of this database, ministers seem determined to bulldoze it through."

Over the past few months, government departments have been accused of a series of data security mishaps, including the loss of data discs containing the child benefit records of millions of people last year.

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