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Ms Carrie is so concerned about these security failures that she has refused to sign off the first phase of ContactPoint by the planned date of March 13. The DCSF has confirmed that about a third of England’s 150 local authorities have failed to sign off.

Annette Brooke, the Liberal Democrat spokeswoman for children, said: “We cannot have some of our most vulnerable children being put at risk.”

Tim Loughton, the Conservative Shadow Minister for Children, whose party has pledged to scrap ContactPoint, said it showed that the Government could not be trusted to set up large databases or to keep data secure.

Baroness Morgan of Drefelin, the government spokeswoman for children, said: “We will not extend ContactPoint to all local authorities until we and they are satisfied that these issues have been addressed.”

WHO'S WATCHING YOU

— National DNA Database Holds profiles on four million people, most unconvicted. Hard to get samples removed. Ruled unlawful by European Court of Human Rights

— NHS detailed care record Allows GPs, hospitals, nurses, social workers and others to update patients’ notes. Concerns about number of people with access to confidential records

— Common Assessment Framework Shares sensitive information on children with welfare needs. Has been accused of prying into family life

— Onset A record of which children are likely to become criminals. Triggered by referrals to youth offending teams

— Work and Pensions data sharing To hold 85 million records, one of Europe’s largest databases. Based on national insurance numbers. Could be linked to ID register.

— Home Office interception modernisation Will track all e-mail, text and internet traffic. Covers itemised phone bills and mobiles

— e-borders Will record journeys in and out of the country and retain records for ten years

National identity register Will store biometric information linked to ID cards and list interaction with services. Intelligence agencies and police get largely unrestricted access

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