whoops

Stevie H · November 20, 2007

Discs with 15m bank details lost

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7103566.stm

Confidential details of 15 million child benefit recipients are on computer discs lost by HM Revenue and Customs, the BBC understands.

The chairman of the organisation, Paul Gray, has resigned.

Revenue and Customs says it does not believe the records - names, addresses, date of birth and bank accounts - have fallen into the wrong hands.

Chancellor Alistair Darling is to give a Commons statement on "a major operational problem" at 1530 GMT.

BBC political editor Nick Robinson said he understood ministers had been aware of the problem for nine to 10 days.

The Metropolitan Police have confirmed they are "making inquiries" into the discs.

Mr Darling is expected to outline the measures taken to protect those whose data has been lost.

The resignation of Mr Gray was accepted because discs had been transported in breach of rules governing data protection.

In a letter to Revenue and Customs staff, he said: "This is not the way I would have planned to organise my departure from HMRC.

"I had hoped to be around for a while longer, and to have had the continuing privilege of leading HMRC towards the vision we have been developing.

"But I am extremely proud of what all of you in the organisation have achieved during my time as deputy chairman and chairman."

'Eye off the ball'

Conservative MP Michael Fallon, who is vice-chairman of the Treasury select committee, said there had been "persistent rumours that all is not well at Revenue and Customs".

He said there had been complaints from people about tax credits "and it may look as if he (Mr Darling) has simply taken his eye off the ball over that organisation as well".

He should have told the public straight away

Nigel Evans

All Party Group on ID fraud

Q&A: Lost benefit records

Nigel Evans, head of the Parliamentary All Party Group on Identity Fraud, said he wanted to know exactly what information was on the discs - such as bank account statements and sort codes - and whether it was encrypted or password protected.

The Tory MP also said the chancellor would have to explain why he did not immediately publicise the problem: "He should have told the public straight away in order that they could have taken precautions against anyone's information being used by ID fraudsters."

Not responsible

Home Office minister Liam Byrne said: "I think that the department does a difficult job and I think it does it well - the chancellor will set out a full statement and a full account to the background of this story a little later on."

Jonathan Baume, general secretary of the FDA, the union for senior public servants, said there had been a "serious operational error".

Chancellor Alistair Darling will make a Commons statement at 1530

But he added: "Paul Gray was in no way personally responsible, but he has recognised that, as the most senior official in the department, the accountability ultimately lies with him.

"His decision to take on this accountability is an example of British public service at its best."

Customs and Excise was merged with the Inland Revenue in 2005, creating the biggest department in Whitehall. It was also ordered to reduce its 94,000 total staff by 25,000.

It is run by an executive board, but the chancellor is responsible to Parliament for its operations.

It collects taxes and other government receipts worth about £400bn a year, as well as administering benefits and tax credits, which require it to process large amounts of personal data.

Eskimo · November 20, 2007

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