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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Government challenges data claims | Government challenges data claims |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Conservative claims that senior officials were involved in the loss of 25 million child benefit records have been challenged by the Treasury. | Conservative claims that senior officials were involved in the loss of 25 million child benefit records have been challenged by the Treasury. |
| The government has insisted the security breach followed a junior member of staff breaking the rules. | The government has insisted the security breach followed a junior member of staff breaking the rules. |
| The loss of the HM Revenue and Customs computer discs may have put members of the public at risk of identity fraud. | The loss of the HM Revenue and Customs computer discs may have put members of the public at risk of identity fraud. |
| The Treasury said aspects of the Conservatives' account of events were factually inaccurate. | The Treasury said aspects of the Conservatives' account of events were factually inaccurate. |
| It is understood that one worker, a 23-year-old man, has resigned over the disappearance of the two data CDs. | It is understood that one worker, a 23-year-old man, has resigned over the disappearance of the two data CDs. |
| See sequence of events in the lost CDs scandal | See sequence of events in the lost CDs scandal |
| The Conservative head of the Public Accounts Committee, Edward Leigh, claims senior Revenue and Customs officials approved the release of detailed information to the National Audit Office (NAO). | The Conservative head of the Public Accounts Committee, Edward Leigh, claims senior Revenue and Customs officials approved the release of detailed information to the National Audit Office (NAO). |
| He said the NAO wanted only limited child benefit records but was told in an e-mail from a senior business manager in March that to remove more sensitive information was too costly and complex. | He said the NAO wanted only limited child benefit records but was told in an e-mail from a senior business manager in March that to remove more sensitive information was too costly and complex. |
| That e-mail was apparently copied to an assistant director of the department. | That e-mail was apparently copied to an assistant director of the department. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY How can we trust our government with access to electronic data on such a wide scale? Laura, Oakworth Send us your comments | |
| The result was that full details were sent to the audit office at that time, and again in October when they were lost in internal post. | The result was that full details were sent to the audit office at that time, and again in October when they were lost in internal post. |
| The Treasury has challenged aspects of the account but refuses to elaborate. | The Treasury has challenged aspects of the account but refuses to elaborate. |
| 'Systemic failure' | 'Systemic failure' |
| Shadow chancellor George Osborne said Prime Minister Gordon Brown's account of what happened had been undermined. | Shadow chancellor George Osborne said Prime Minister Gordon Brown's account of what happened had been undermined. |
| "This was systemic failure, not individual error by a junior official," he said. | "This was systemic failure, not individual error by a junior official," he said. |
| 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--> |
| "Gordon Brown needs to tell us the whole truth of why the security of all families in the country has been put at risk." | "Gordon Brown needs to tell us the whole truth of why the security of all families in the country has been put at risk." |
| During a heated prime minister's questions session, Mr Brown told MPs: "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 told MPs: "I profoundly regret and apologise for the inconvenience and worries that have been caused to millions of families who receive child benefits. |
| "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 said he had ordered a review by the Cabinet Secretary of data safety in government and would give Information Commissioner Richard Thomas the power to spot check departments to ensure data was safe. | He said he had ordered a review by the Cabinet Secretary of data safety in government and would give Information Commissioner Richard Thomas the power to spot check departments to ensure data was safe. |
| Conservative leader David Cameron said people would "be angry that the government has failed in its first duty to protect the public". | Conservative leader David Cameron said people would "be angry that the government has failed in its first duty to protect the public". |
| 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. |
| Two Labour backbench MPs - Karen Buck and Andy Love - said the government should "pause" and "stand back" from the planned project. | Two Labour backbench MPs - Karen Buck and Andy Love - said the government should "pause" and "stand back" from the planned project. |
| Bank details | Bank details |
| The entire child benefit database was sent via internal mail from HMRC in Washington, Tyne and Wear, to the NAO in London via courier TNT on 18 October. | The entire child benefit database was sent via internal mail from HMRC in Washington, Tyne and Wear, to the NAO in London via courier TNT on 18 October. |
| The data on the two missing discs includes names, dates of birth, bank and address details. | The data on the two missing discs includes names, dates of birth, bank and address details. |
| CHILD BENEFIT HOAXES Hours after the blunder emerged, a website claimed to be offering the missing data for downloadFullreleases.com, a site registered in Arizona, lists several files entitled "child benefit", but users must pay $29.95 plus tax to join before they can view themHowever, once money is paid the files cannot be accessed and the site appears to be a scamThe HMRC said people should take care with any transaction on the internet and anyone concerned about their data should call the helpline 'Our data was put at risk' | CHILD BENEFIT HOAXES Hours after the blunder emerged, a website claimed to be offering the missing data for downloadFullreleases.com, a site registered in Arizona, lists several files entitled "child benefit", but users must pay $29.95 plus tax to join before they can view themHowever, once money is paid the files cannot be accessed and the site appears to be a scamThe HMRC said people should take care with any transaction on the internet and anyone concerned about their data should call the helpline 'Our data was put at risk' |
| Chancellor Alistair Darling said the civil servant had broken the rules by downloading the data to disc and sending it by unrecorded delivery. | Chancellor Alistair Darling said the civil servant had broken the rules by downloading the data to disc and sending it by unrecorded delivery. |
| Mr Leigh said that a copy he had been given of a briefing note, written by NAO head Sir John Bourn for the chancellor, suggested that senior HMRC officials authorised the release of the sensitive information. | Mr Leigh said that a copy he had been given of a briefing note, written by NAO head Sir John Bourn for the chancellor, suggested that senior HMRC officials authorised the release of the sensitive information. |
| Bosses at the Revenue were not told about the loss of the discs until 8 November, and Mr Darling and Mr Brown learned about the situation on 10 November. | Bosses at the Revenue were not told about the loss of the discs 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. |
| 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 |
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