The controversial child database recommended after the Laming inquiry looks set to be scrapped by the new government. The ContactPoint database, which was a key recommendation following the death of murdered toddler Victoria Climbie, is among the projects placed under review. It was named as one of the projects to be reviewed as part of negotiations in the Conservative-Liberal coalition. The system was created to enable child-protection specialists in health, social services, the police and education to highlight children at risk of abuse of neglect. The aim was to prevent serious cases being ignored, despite alarm being raised. Conservative critics ahead of the election had challenged the database as part of the ‘nanny state', and claimed it would not prevent child abuse. The new system has also been criticised as it requires staff to fill in multiple pages of information which as to be repeated for each sibling. One council chief executive told The MJ: ‘Child protection is the only priority. We cannot have a situation where staff are, in effect, having to write a novel for each family. How does that help them and how can that be the right use of resource?'