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Brown apologises for records loss Brown apologises for records loss
(9 minutes later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he "profoundly regrets" the loss of 25 million child benefit records.Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he "profoundly regrets" the loss of 25 million child benefit records.
He told MPs he apologised for the "inconvenience and worries" caused and said the government was working to prevent the data being used for fraud.He told MPs he apologised for the "inconvenience and worries" caused and said the government was working to prevent the data being used for fraud.
But Conservative leader David Cameron said the government had "failed in its first duty to protect the public".But Conservative leader David Cameron said the government had "failed in its first duty to protect the public".
The Revenue and Customs data on the missing discs includes names, dates of birth, bank and address details. The Revenue and Customs data on the two missing discs includes names, dates of birth, bank and address details.
'Mistakes''Mistakes'
During a heated prime minister's questions session, Mr Brown said: "I profoundly regret and apologise for the inconvenience and worries that have been caused to millions of families who receive child benefits.During a heated prime minister's questions session, Mr Brown said: "I profoundly regret and apologise for the inconvenience and worries that have been caused to millions of families who receive child benefits.
I am not going to start running away from things when things get difficult Alistair Darling Commons clash: Key points Analysis: Political damageI am not going to start running away from things when things get difficult Alistair Darling Commons clash: Key points Analysis: Political damage
"When mistakes happen in enforcing procedures, we have a duty to do everything we can to protect the public.""When mistakes happen in enforcing procedures, we have a duty to do everything we can to protect the public."
But Mr Cameron said: "They will be angry that the government has failed in its first duty to protect the public." He also said that "the idea that we are complacent about this is quite ridiculous. We are taking all the action that is necessary."
Mr Brown added: "There is no excuse for not following proper procedures."
But Mr Cameron said people would "be angry that the government has failed in its first duty to protect the public."
He added: "What people want from their prime minister on a day like this is to show some broad shoulders, be the big man and accept some responsibility."He added: "What people want from their prime minister on a day like this is to show some broad shoulders, be the big man and accept some responsibility."
Some of the personal details required to claim child benefit.Enlarge Image
Mr Cameron said people were "desperately worried" and they would "find it frankly weird" that Mr Brown still wanted to go ahead with plans for a national ID cards scheme and register.Mr Cameron said people were "desperately worried" and they would "find it frankly weird" that Mr Brown still wanted to go ahead with plans for a national ID cards scheme and register.
Earlier, the Tories questioned whether Alistair Darling was "up to the job" of chancellor.Earlier, the Tories questioned whether Alistair Darling was "up to the job" of chancellor.
Mr Darling said he "deeply regretted" what had happened, but stressed there was no evidence of misuse of the data.Mr Darling said he "deeply regretted" what had happened, but stressed there was no evidence of misuse of the data.
href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_politics_enl_1195636844/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_politics_enl_1195636844/html/1.stm', '1195636915', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=390,height=453,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Some of the personal details required to claim child benefit. href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_politics_enl_1195636844/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_politics_enl_1195636844/html/1.stm', '1195636915', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=390,height=453,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Image He told the BBC his confidence had been "shaken" by what he described as a "catastrophic" incident, involving "serious breaches".
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Darling said his confidence had been "shaken" by what he described as a "catastrophic" incident.
''There's no doubt in my mind there have been very, very serious breaches here.
"People are entitled to trust the government to look after information that is given to it - for child benefit or any other purposes - and that did not happen here," said the chancellor."People are entitled to trust the government to look after information that is given to it - for child benefit or any other purposes - and that did not happen here," said the chancellor.
He said the information, which was on two CDs, should "should never, ever have left the building in which it was stored".
Mr Darling denied the problem was related to the merger of the Revenue and Customs departments and staff cuts, as claimed by staff members in e-mails to the BBC.
'Difficult'
He also hit back at claims his own position as chancellor was in doubt amid continuing difficulties with Northern Rock, which has seen its share price plunge a further 15%.
"I am not going to start running away from things when things get difficult," he told Today.
A gap's opened up between what we're told about data protection and the reality BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full A gap's opened up between what we're told about data protection and the reality BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full
Referring to the data loss crisis, he said: "It is difficult, unwelcome in every respect, but I am determined to see it through". He said the information "should never, ever have left the building in which it was stored".
Mr Darling said banks were monitoring all 7.25 million bank accounts whose details were on the discs, which contained the personal details of all child benefit recipients in the UK. Mr Darling denied the problem was related to the merger of the Revenue and Customs departments and staff cuts, as claimed by staff members in e-mails to the BBC.
People are being urged by both the chancellor and banks to keep a close eye on their accounts "for unusual activity". He said banks were monitoring all 7.25 million bank accounts whose details were on the discs, which contained the personal details of all child benefit recipients in the UK.
Mr Darling said that anyone who lost money as a result of any misuse of the data would be covered for losses under the banking code.
CHILD BENEFIT Available to the parents, normally mother, of every child in UK under 16Older children in full-time education still eligibleTaken up by almost 100%It amounts to £18.10 a week for a first-born childFor subsequent children - it amounts to £12.10 a week Timeline: Benefit records lossCHILD BENEFIT Available to the parents, normally mother, of every child in UK under 16Older children in full-time education still eligibleTaken up by almost 100%It amounts to £18.10 a week for a first-born childFor subsequent children - it amounts to £12.10 a week Timeline: Benefit records loss
On Tuesday the chancellor told MPs how the entire child benefit database was sent via internal mail by a junior official from HMRC in Washington, Tyne and Wear, to the audit office in London via courier TNT on 18 October. Mr Darling said anyone who lost money as a result of any misuse of the data would be covered for losses under the banking code.
The chancellor said the official had broken the rules by downloading the data to disc and sending it by unrecorded delivery. The entire child benefit database was sent via internal mail by a junior official from HMRC in Washington, Tyne and Wear, to the audit office in London via courier TNT on 18 October.
But he reassured those affected that police had no reason to believe the discs had found their way into the wrong hands, nor did they have any evidence of it being used for "fraudulent purposes or criminal activity." Delay
Buck questions The chancellor said the civil servant had broken the rules by downloading the data to disc and sending it by unrecorded delivery.
Bosses at the Revenue were not told about what had happened until 8 November and Mr Darling and Prime Minister Gordon Brown learned about the situation on 10 November. Bosses at the Revenue were not told about what had happened until 8 November and Mr Darling and Mr Brown learned about the situation on 10 November.
The chancellor said he had delayed an emergency statement to the Commons because banks and building societies had asked for time to prepare and make sure security procedures were in place.
HAVE YOUR SAY What a complete shambles.... and I fear things will only get worse once the loathsome ID cards are introduced Anthony H, London Send us your comments Papers mull records loss
The officials involved waited before informing their superiors in the hope that the discs would be found.The officials involved waited before informing their superiors in the hope that the discs would be found.
The Metropolitan Police is leading the search, and the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which oversees the HMRC, is investigating the security breach. HAVE YOUR SAY What a complete shambles.... and I fear things will only get worse once the loathsome ID cards are introduced Anthony H, London class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3839&edition=1">Send us your comments class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7105111.stm">Papers mull records loss
A TNT spokesman said that because the discs had not been sent as recorded it was not possible to verify if they had ever been posted. He added that the company would not be responsible for any losses incurred. Mr Darling reassured those affected that police had no reason to believe they had got into the wrong hands.
Liberal Democrat Acting Leader Vince Cable asked: "Where does the buck stop in this government?" People are being urged by both the chancellor and banks to keep a close eye on their accounts "for unusual activity".
The Metropolitan Police is leading the search for the discs, and the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which oversees the HMRC, is investigating the security breach.
  • Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs has set up a Child Benefit Helpline on 0845 302 1444 for customers who want more details.
  • Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs has set up a Child Benefit Helpline on 0845 302 1444 for customers who want more details.