(1)The Secretary of State must publish and lay before Parliament a report describing the government’s policy in relation to the sharing of information by or with public authorities in the exercise of relevant functions of those authorities, for purposes relating to—
(a)children’s health or social care, or
(b)the safeguarding or promotion of the welfare of children.
(2)In this section, “relevant functions” means functions relating to children’s health or social care, so far as exercisable in relation to England.
(3)The report must include an explanation of whether or to what extent it is the government’s policy that a consistent identifier should be used for each child, to facilitate the sharing of information.
(4)The report must include a summary of the Secretary of State’s views about implementation of the policy referred to in subsection (1), including any views about steps that should be taken to overcome barriers to implementation.
(5)The report must be published and laid before Parliament within one year beginning with the date on which this section comes into force.
(6)In this section “child” means a person aged under 18.