Fingerprinting children..""...the system was preparing pupils for a world in which terrorism was rife..."

"I have not been able to find a single piece of published research which suggests that the use of biometrics in schools promotes healthy eating or improves reading skills amongst children. I am concerned that these reasons are being given as a justification for fingerprinting children. There is absolutely no evidence for such claims."

Dr Sandra Leaton Gray, Director of Studies, Sociology of Education, Homerton College, Cambridge, 20 Feb 2007, quoted on the website of Pippa King, resolute campaigner to stop the use of fingerprinting children in schools, for collecting information on diet, running libraries and half ass schemes for attendance... often without the agreement or prior knowledge or discussion with parents.

Visit her site Biometrics in Schools to get up to date on the latest developments ...an Early Day Motion, laid down by Greg Mulholland, No 10 Petition you can sign and links to many many sources including a Forum run for them by NO2ID - it is astonishing how schemes are being introduced at local level with no national guidelines or policies to control them.

So far this is the Gubment response

The Department for Education and Skills does provide guidance for schools and local authorities on data protection and the security of personal data which would include Biometric data.

However we are currently working with the British Educational and Communication Technology Agency (Becta) and with the office of the Information Commissioner to update the guidance including around the use of Biometric technologies.

The Register had the story of MP Greg Mulholland's request for a debate on the subject of fingerprinting children on 29th January -He said "Legal opinion, including that of the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency, has stated that this practice contravenes the Data Protection Act 1998. Does he agree that it is time to debate this important subject in the House?" Mulholland asked Jack Straw, leader of the House of Commons ex Foreign Secretary and War Criminal.

Straw refused, claiming ignorance (there is so much he is ignorant of) : "I am not aware of the practice [of fingerprinting children at school], but obviously people have accepted it," he said.

"There is a problem with ensuring people's identity, and one of the ways of doing that is to use biometric data," he went on, "Security in libraries is a big issue for younger and older people."

One head teacher's reason to install a biometric system in his school "...the system was preparing pupils for a world in which terrorism was rife, and their privacy would be further invaded" From the York Press January 2007

Collecting the data from children under 12 without parental consent directly contravenes the Data Protection Act. No child should have biometric information taken without the express written permission of their parents