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Ministers under fire over records Ministers under fire over records
(20 minutes later)
The government's "basic competence" has been questioned by the Tories after the loss of two discs containing the personal details of 25 million people. The government's "basic competence" has been questioned by the Tories after the loss in the post of computer discs with 25m people's personal details on them.
The computer discs feature information including names, addresses, ages, bank account and national insurance numbers. The child benefit data on them includes names, ages, bank and address details.
They are lost in the post after being sent from HM Revenue and Customs to the National Audit Office. People have been told to be wary of any fraud. Tory George Osborne said ministers had failed in their duty to protect people, and questioned whether Alistair Darling "is up to the job" of chancellor.
Tory George Osborne said ministers had failed in their duty to protect people. Mr Darling said he "deeply regretted" what had happened, but stressed there was no evidence of misuse of the data.
CHILD BENEFIT HELPLINE 0845 302 1444 Q&A: What you need to know CHILD BENEFIT HELPLINE 0845 302 1444 Q&A: What you need to know
Mr Osborne, the shadow chancellor, said that "people are asking" whether the Chancellor Alistair Darling was up to the job. 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 told BBC Breakfast that the first duty of any government was to protect citizens, and it had failed to do so. People are being urged by both the chancellor and banks to keep a close eye on their accounts "for unusual activity".
Mr Darling's job "is clearly on the line", Mr Osborne said, adding that he had a matter of "days or weeks to prove" he was up to the job. 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.
Unrecorded deliveryUnrecorded delivery
On Tuesday the chancellor told MPs how the entire child benefit database was sent by a junior official from HMRC in Newcastle to the audit office in London through courier TNT on 18 October.On Tuesday the chancellor told MPs how the entire child benefit database was sent by a junior official from HMRC in Newcastle to the audit office in London through courier TNT on 18 October.
The chancellor said the official had broken the rules by downloading the data to disc and sending it by unrecorded delivery.The chancellor said the official had broken the rules by downloading the data to disc and sending it by unrecorded delivery.
MISSING DATA INCLUDES... National insurance numberName, address and birth datePartner's detailsNames, sex and age of childrenBank/savings account details Analysis: Political damageMISSING DATA INCLUDES... National insurance numberName, address and birth datePartner's detailsNames, sex and age of childrenBank/savings account details Analysis: Political damage
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."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."
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 Prime Minister Gordon 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.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.
Banking codeBanking code
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 hunt for the discs, and the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which oversees the HMRC, is investigating the security breach.The Metropolitan Police is leading the hunt for the discs, and the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which oversees the HMRC, is investigating the security breach.
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
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.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.
The chancellor said the Banking Code would protect the public from any fraud committed as a result of the loss. Mr Osborne, the shadow chancellor, said that "people are asking" whether the Chancellor Alistair Darling was up to the job.
Jane Kennedy, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, acknowledged that mistakes had been made. He told BBC Breakfast that the first duty of any government was to protect citizens, and it had failed to do so.
She told BBC News: "What happened was a clear breach of what is laid down in terms of the rules. Mr Darling's job "is clearly on the line", Mr Osborne said, adding that he had a matter of "days or weeks to prove" he was up to the job.
"I accept that there are very serious issues for us to address. That is why we are working so hard to address them.
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 commentsHAVE 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
"This data should not have been handled in the way that it was. It should have been protected to a much greater level than it was."
Liberal Democrat Acting Leader Vince Cable asked: "Where does the buck stop in this government?"Liberal Democrat Acting Leader Vince Cable asked: "Where does the buck stop in this government?"
Professor Ross Anderson of Cambridge University's computer laboratory thinks the government's strategy of centralising information is too risky.Professor Ross Anderson of Cambridge University's computer laboratory thinks the government's strategy of centralising information is too risky.
He said: "This was an accident waiting to happen and if it hadn't happened in this particular case it would have happened elsewhere."He said: "This was an accident waiting to happen and if it hadn't happened in this particular case it would have happened elsewhere."