Clause 16
Education and Skills Bill
4:00 pm
Jim Knight (Minister of State (Schools and Learners), Department for Children, Schools and Families; South Dorset, Labour)
The clause is based on section 120 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000, which enables public bodies to share information on young people with Connexions. The information supplied may include up-to-date information on 16 and 17-year-olds relating to their education, training and areas of particular need, including health, family, personal and social need, as well as changes in their educational circumstances. The clause relates to the established system that Connexions providers use, and it does not change or add to the data that that system holds.
We want Connexions to have access to exactly the same information about young people as it does at the moment. The clause meets the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998, and has been proven to do so. Access to personal data will continue to be strictly controlled in compliance with data protection laws. Without wishing to make a pun, I hope that ending with the word “laws” satisfies the hon. Member for Yeovil.
As I have set out in relation to previous clauses and in relation to this clause, it is for every public body to satisfy itself that the extent of the information it releases to local authorities and Connexions service providers under the provisions is proportionate to the benefits of increasing participation in education and training, and will enable local authorities to be satisfied that when requesting information they are acting proportionately. Without this provision we judge there to be a significant risk that a greater number of young people would become NEET—not in education, employment or training—resulting in the poor outcomes that are more prevalent in that group.
It might help if I set out briefly for the Committee the circumstances in which disclosure of information will take place under the provisions. In practice, the bulk of shared data moves from the local authority and the learning and skills council to Connexions through secure transfer. The other bodies listed would disclose information only on a case-by-case basis, when the lead professional would call on the skills of other agencies in the area to help resolve problems. For example, the vast majority of data exchanges involving the police or youth offending teams—concerns were raised about that this morning—would entail data going from that part of the criminal justice system to Connexions, not vice versa. This is therefore very much a matter of those bodies informing Connexions on a case-by-case basis of what is going on in respect of certain individuals.
Data would be shared verbally at a case conference or in a one-to-one meeting, either face to face or by telephone. Where appropriate, notes taken by the individual would then be entered on the client case load information system. Details would routinely include the name and contact details of other professionals dealing with the young person and a brief summary of the issues that the young person was facing at the time. Such entries are time bound and reviewed regularly. Connexions personal advisers would make contact with that professional to ensure that the circumstances had not changed and that the data were up to date. I can assure the Committee that all information sharing would be based on the young person’s needs.