Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, on what basis journalists can access identifying and sensitive health data about children's special educational needs from the national pupil database; and if she will make a statement.

Any request to use National Pupil Database data is only processed if it complies with the requirements of the Education (Individual Pupil Information) (Prescribed Persons) (England) Regulations 2009, made under section 537A(4) of the Education Act 1996 and the Data Protection Act 1998. As part of the approval process officials, including senior data experts and legal advisers, assess each application for legality, proportionality and security. The panel must also be satisfied that the access requested is ethical and of value to education.

If journalists are able to meet these standards, their request will be considered.