Member

A public sector organisation will operate the database. That could be the department or a third party such as the lead local authority. Private bodies may be involved with the running of the database through entering into contracts with the database operator, but we do not intend to appoint a commercial entity as the database operator. We are developing the database with a view to initial departmental operation and are considering options for who is best placed to operate the database in the longer term—for example, whether the department or a lead local authority should operate the service. As we have not yet made a decision on who would be best placed to operate the database in the long term, we would like to maintain the flexibility for the Secretary of State to be able to arrange for a third party to be the database operator.