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Discs loss 'entirely avoidable' Discs loss 'entirely avoidable'
(10 minutes later)
The loss of discs containing personal details of 25 million people was "entirely avoidable", a report says.The loss of discs containing personal details of 25 million people was "entirely avoidable", a report says.
The Poynter report does not blame individual officials, but points to serious structural failings at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) offices. The Poynter report does not blame individual officials, but highlights serious structural failings at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) offices.
Chancellor Alistair Darling told MPs action was already being taken to improve data security.Chancellor Alistair Darling told MPs action was already being taken to improve data security.
A separate report by the Independent Police Complaints Commission said HMRC security was "woefully inadequate". The Tories said the report and another by the Independent Police Complaints Commission were "truly devastating".
Shadow Chancellor George Osborne said they highlighted "incompetence and systemic failure at the heart of this government".
They were "a guide to how not to govern this country", he added.
Mr Darling said the public was entitled to expect government departments would protect their personal details, but added that there was "no evidence of any fraudulent activity" as a result of the child benefit breach.Mr Darling said the public was entitled to expect government departments would protect their personal details, but added that there was "no evidence of any fraudulent activity" as a result of the child benefit breach.
He said he agreed with Kieran Poynter, the man he appointed to investigate last October's breach, that there were "serious failings" in the way HMRC had been operating.He said he agreed with Kieran Poynter, the man he appointed to investigate last October's breach, that there were "serious failings" in the way HMRC had been operating.
The report does not blame the merger of Customs and Inland Revenue, he told MPs, but found the "complex system of management installed after the merger was not suitable". The report does not blame the merger of Customs and Inland Revenue - which was brought in by his predecessor as chancellor - he told MPs.
The report highlights poor communication between senior managers and junior staff at the HMRC offices in Tyne and Wear, low staff morale and inadequate training. But it did find the "complex system of management installed after the merger was not suitable", he added.
A seperate report by the IPPC, found there was "a complete lack of any meaningful systems" and a "muddle-through" ethos at the HMRC offices. The Poynter reports blames the loss of the discs on poor communication between senior managers and junior staff at the HMRC offices in Tyne and Wear, low staff morale and inadequate training.
Few members of the HMRC staff appreciated the highly sensitive nature of the information contained on the two discs - and those that voiced concern were ignored, the report said. A separate report by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, said data security processes at HMRC were "woefully inadequate" with "a complete lack of any meaningful systems" and a "muddle-through" ethos.
If an internal review being carried out at the time the discs were lost, in October last year, had been given higher priority the incident might have been avoided, it added. Few members of staff appreciated the highly sensitive nature of the information contained on the two discs - and those who voiced concern were ignored, the report said.
If an internal review being carried out at the time the discs were lost, in October last year, had been given higher priority, the incident might have been avoided, it added.