The formal public consultation on the draft information sharing index (England) regulations 2007 was launched on 21 September. The index will enable practitioners delivering services to children to identify and contact one another easily and quickly.

The regulations are a requirement under Section 12 of the Children Act 2004. Once in force, they will provide a legal framework for the operation and maintenance of the index. 
The consultation will close on 14 December 2006. A response is due to be published early in 2007.
  
Further details will be set out in Statutory Guidance, which will be issued for consultation and published in 2007.

For more information and to respond to the consultation see the DfES e-Consultations site:

• Information Sharing Index consultation