To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what entitlement a young person who has left the care of a local authority has to access personal information held on them by that local authority; what guidance is issued by his Department to local authorities in responding to requests for such information; and what redress is available to a young person whose request does not receive a response within a reasonable time. (271314)

Under the Data Protection Act 1998 adults who have been in local authority care as children are entitled to access the personal information held on them. Guidance on the Data Protection Act for social services was issued by the Department of Health in 2000. This highlights the need for local authorities to take a sensitive approach in sharing information with adults about their care history and for authorities to provide them with appropriate support during this process. The planned revision of the Children Act statutory guidance which we will be consulting on later this year provides us with the opportunity to update the existing guidance for local authorities, and to promote examples of good practice.