A civil liberties campaigner is raising concerns over information being collected on school children in the Isle of Man, as part of a new database at the Department of Education and Children.

Tristram Llewelyn-Jones campaigned against a centralised database when the idea was put forward as part of the Children Bill in 2010.

It proved unpopular during a public consultation, and the Bill was dropped.

A question in Tynwald last week highlighted details of another child database currently in the pipeline.

It cost ?267,500 to set up, with annual running costs of ?44,000.

Mr Llewelyn-Jones says relevant pupil information is already kept on schools' own computer systems, and he claims the department does not need a centralised database.

He says the money could be better spent elsewhere (listen to audio file below):

A spokesman for the Department of Education and Children says the database is still a work-in-progress.

Information gathered will not be shared with other government departments and all data will be stored securely.

The DEC says the purpose of the database is to assess pupil achievements and needs, and ensure relevant policies are put forward.