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| Version 19 | Version 20 |
|---|---|
| Brown apologises for records loss | Brown apologises for records loss |
| (10 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 apologised in the Commons 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 two 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 Your questions answered Sketch: Commons clash | I am not going to start running away from things when things get difficult Alistair Darling Your questions answered Sketch: Commons clash |
| "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." |
| He also said that "the idea that we are complacent about this is quite ridiculous. We are taking all the action that is necessary." | 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." | Mr Brown added: "There is no excuse for not following proper procedures." |
| See sequence of events in the lost CDs scandal | See sequence of events in the lost CDs scandal |
| But Mr Cameron said people would "be angry that the government has failed in its first duty to protect the public." | 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." |
| MISSING DATA INCLUDES National insurance numberName, address and birth datePartner's detailsNames, sex and age of childrenBank/savings account details -->Enlarge Image--> | MISSING DATA INCLUDES National insurance numberName, address and birth datePartner's detailsNames, sex and age of childrenBank/savings account details -->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. |
| He told the BBC his confidence had been "shaken" by what he described as a "catastrophic" incident, involving "serious breaches". | He told the BBC his confidence had been "shaken" by what he described as a "catastrophic" incident, involving "serious breaches". |
| "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. |
| 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 |
| He said the information "should never, ever have left the building in which it was stored". | He said the information "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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 anyone who lost money as a result of any misuse of the data would be covered for losses under the banking code. | 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 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. | 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. |
| Delay | Delay |
| The chancellor said the civil servant had broken the rules by downloading the data to disc and sending it by unrecorded delivery. | 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 Mr 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 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. |
| 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 | 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 |
| Mr Darling reassured those affected that police had no reason to believe they had got into the wrong hands. | Mr Darling reassured those affected that police had no reason to believe they had got into the wrong hands. |
| People are being urged by both the chancellor and banks to keep a close eye on their accounts "for unusual activity". | 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. | 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. |
| LOST CDS - SEQUENCE OF EVENTS 18 October - Junior official from HMRC in Washington, Tyne and Wear, sends two CDs containing password-protected records to audit office in London through courier TNT, neither recorded nor registered 24 October - When package fails to arrive, second one is sent by registered post and arrives safely3 November - Senior managers are told first package has been lost10 November - Prime minister and other ministers are informed12 November - HMRC tell ministers CDs will probably be found 14 November - When HMRC searches fail, Metropolitan Police are called in 15 November- Richard Thomas, Information Commissioner, says remedial action must be taken before public is informed 20 November - HMRC Chairman Paul Gray resigns; Chancellor Alistair Darling makes announcement to House of Commons Timeline in detail | LOST CDS - SEQUENCE OF EVENTS 18 October - Junior official from HMRC in Washington, Tyne and Wear, sends two CDs containing password-protected records to audit office in London through courier TNT, neither recorded nor registered 24 October - When package fails to arrive, second one is sent by registered post and arrives safely3 November - Senior managers are told first package has been lost10 November - Prime minister and other ministers are informed12 November - HMRC tell ministers CDs will probably be found 14 November - When HMRC searches fail, Metropolitan Police are called in 15 November- Richard Thomas, Information Commissioner, says remedial action must be taken before public is informed 20 November - HMRC Chairman Paul Gray resigns; Chancellor Alistair Darling makes announcement to House of Commons Timeline in detail |
| Return | Return |