HC Deb 29 April 2004 vol 420 cc1276-7W
Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which local authorities are participating in piloting data sharing schemes for vulnerable children; and when each is due to report. [169037]

Margaret Hodge

The Government have provided up to £1 million each to 10 Trailblazers, involving 15 local authorities, to test new ways of information sharing and multi-agency working. They ate: Bolton; Camden; Kensington and Chelsea; Knowsley; Lewisham; Sheffield; Gateshead and Newcastle; Leicestershire, Leicester City and Rutland; Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire and west Sussex and east Sussex.

An evaluation underway by Royal Holloway, University of London is due to report in autumn 2004.

An interim report, Developing Identification and referral tracking systems: An evaluation of the processes undertaken by trailblazer authorities, was published in March 2004. I will arrange for a copy to be sent to the hon. Member and one has already been placed in the Library of the House.