CITY leaders have come under fire for criticising the Government’s introduction of a database containing every child on Merseyside’s data.

Opposition figures have accused the Liberal Democrat led administration of “playing politics” with children’s safety after suggesting that data could be lost and children put at risk following a series of high-profile government data blunders.

Last night, Labour education spokeswoman Wendy Simon rounded on the administration, declaring that neither the council leader nor executive member for children’s services had raised any formal objections.

She said objections had not been raised at the Liverpool First for Children Board, either.

Cllr Simon added: “As shadow spokesperson, I can assure that at no time have concerns been noted at either the Health Care and Safeguarding Select Committee, or the Corporate Parenting and Safeguarding sub-group of that committee.”

She added: “While there are some who may have concerns regarding information being held electronically on databases, the reality is in respect of health, education, and social care, data has been stored in this way for many years, obviously governed by data protection and human rights legislation.

“It is a pity that this Lib-Dem administration are politicising such an important and sensitive issue.”