City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Margaret McMillan Tower
Bradford
BD1 1NN
W www.bradford.gov.uk
Tel: (01274) 439394
Email:
Date: 11/11/2016
Dear Fiona Nicholson
Reference no: FOI-Oct92
I refer to your request dated 28th October 2016 under the Freedom Of Information Act asking to supply the following information:
"5.4 We do not have a data sharing agreed with DWP but it has now been agreed with HMRC that we can be involved in their second phases, which began in Sheffield. This means they will share details of families who are in recived [receipt?] of child benefit, allowing us to cross reference that data with the information we hold on CYP in the district. The pilot will run from Jan – June 2017 and is likely our intelligence will increase during that pilot."
https://bradford.moderngov.co.uk/documents/g6395/Public%20reports%20pack%2012th-Oct-2016%2016.30%20Childrens%20Services%20Overview%20and%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10
page 58
Will the council get details from HMRC of ALL families receiving Child Benefit in the area.
Is this permissible within the current law, and if so, where is this set out?
However, if the council will NOT get details of all families receiving Child Benefit in the area, please could you tell me the criteria for selectingfamilies.
The Council’s response is set out below:
Will the council get details from HMRC of ALL families receiving Child Benefit in the area.
No, BMDC will only receive data on children and families who are missing, and once CME referrals have been received and local enquiries have been exhausted.
Is this permissible within the current law, and if so, where is this set out?
Under Section 436A of the Education and Inspections Act 1996 all local authorities have a
statutory responsibility to
“make arrangements to enable them to establish (so far as it is possible to do so) the identities of children residing in their area who are not receiving a suitable education. In relation to children, by ‘suitable education’ we mean efficient full-time education suitable to her/his age, ability and aptitude and to any special educational needs the child may have.”
We will be working to a Memorandum of Agreement with HMRC which will be in place prior to any data sharing.
However, if the council will NOT get details of all families receiving Child Benefit in the area, please could you tell me the criteria for selecting families.
See response to first question – information will only be requested if a CME referral is received and with all other agencies (eg health and schools) have been exhausted.
In accordance with the Freedom of InformationAct, if you are not satisfied with the reply to your request you can ask for a review. A request for a review must be submitted within 40 working days by contacting by writing Information Governance Team, Bradford Metropolitan District, 1st Floor, Britannia House, Hall Ings, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD1 1HX.
If you are still not satisfied with the outcome of the internal review you have the right of appeal to the Information Commissioner who can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
Tel: 01625 545700 URL: http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
Yours sincerely
Kate Hopton
Teaching and Learning Consultant