HC Deb 17 July 2002 vol 389 cc374-5W
Mr. Wiggins

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what personal information the annual school census collects. [69009]

Mr. Miliband

The Pupil Level Annual Schools Census (PLASC) was introduced for all maintained primary, secondary and special schools and City Technology

Colleges in January 2002. The following information was collected for each pupil on the school's register on the Census day:

  • Unique pupil number (UPN)
  • Full name
  • Date of birth
  • Gender
  • Home postcode
  • Date of entry
  • National Curriculum year
  • Enrolment status
  • Courses of study (for post-16 pupils only).

and the following information for each pupil permanently excluded from the school during the previous school year:

  • UPN
  • Full name
  • Date of birth
  • Gender
  • Date of exclusion
  • Ethnic group
  • Stage on SEN Code of Practice scale (at the time of exclusion).

From January 2003 information will also be collected on whether or not registered pupils are in local authority care on the Census day, and whether they have been in care at any time since joining that school.

Mr. Liddell-Grainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what safeguards there will be in the school census following the inclusion in the list of children in care. [67587]

Mr. Miliband

The Pupil Level Annual Schools Census (PLASC), which was introduced for all maintained primary, secondary and special schools and City Technology Colleges in January 2002, will from January 2003 also collect details of whether or not pupils are in local authority care on the Census day, and whether they have been in care at any time since joining that school.

Information about the safeguards in place to ensure that there is no unauthorised access to PLASC data was provided in the answers to previous questions from the hon. Member on 18 March 2002, Official Report, column 112W and on 10 April 2002, Official Report, columns 115–16W. All of these safeguards will continue to apply, and to be kept under review in the light of advice from the Information Commissioner and other developments.