This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7118593.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Data disc report 'in three weeks' Data disc report 'in three weeks'
(about 6 hours later)
An interim report into how two discs containing the personal details of 25 million people went missing is expected in December, the chancellor has said.An interim report into how two discs containing the personal details of 25 million people went missing is expected in December, the chancellor has said.
Alistair Darling also said some other missing discs would also be looked at as part of the Keiran Poynter inquiry.Alistair Darling also said some other missing discs would also be looked at as part of the Keiran Poynter inquiry.
"We will have his interim report in about three weeks' time... I intend to report to the House," he told MPs."We will have his interim report in about three weeks' time... I intend to report to the House," he told MPs.
The Commons breaks up for Christmas on 18 December. It is not clear whether the report will be published by then.The Commons breaks up for Christmas on 18 December. It is not clear whether the report will be published by then.
During his regular treasury questions in the Commons Mr Darling agreed security needed toughening up particularly regarding "bulk transfer". HM Revenue and Customs sent two discs containing the entire child benefit databse, unregistered and unencrypted, to the National Audit Office by courier in October - but they did not arrive.
HM Revenue and Customs sent two discs, unregistered and unencrypted, to the National Audit Office by courier in October - but they did not arrive.
Fraud alertFraud alert
The government has apologised and said there was no evidence the discs, on which the entire child benefit database had been downloaded, have fallen into the wrong hands. The government has apologised and said there was no evidence the discs had fallen into the wrong hands - HM Revenue and Customs says they are probably still on government property.
HM Revenue and Customs says they are probably still on government property.
But millions of families have been told to be on alert for fraudsters using their details, stored on the discs, which include bank details, National Insurance numbers and children's names, addresses and dates of birth.But millions of families have been told to be on alert for fraudsters using their details, stored on the discs, which include bank details, National Insurance numbers and children's names, addresses and dates of birth.
We do need to have a thorough look at how information is transferred, ask ourselves if it needs to leave a building in the first place Alistair DarlingChancellorWe do need to have a thorough look at how information is transferred, ask ourselves if it needs to leave a building in the first place Alistair DarlingChancellor
Tory MP Gregory Barker said it went "much, much wider" and said HMRC had also sent a disc containing personal details of one of his constituents to his pension provider Standard Life. He asked how many others had gone missing. During his regular Treasury questions in the Commons Mr Darling agreed security needed toughening up particularly regarding "bulk transfer".
But Tory MP Gregory Barker said the issue went "much, much wider" and said one of his constituents had been told HMRC sent a disc containing his personal details to his pension provider Standard Life. He asked how many others had gone missing.
Mr Darling said that would be included in the inquiry currently being carried out by Mr Poynter, UK chairman at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, into the circumstances surrounding the loss of the discs.Mr Darling said that would be included in the inquiry currently being carried out by Mr Poynter, UK chairman at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, into the circumstances surrounding the loss of the discs.
He said an interim report would be ready in about three weeks, and a full report by spring 2008.He said an interim report would be ready in about three weeks, and a full report by spring 2008.
'Worst way''Worst way'
Lib Dem MP John Hemming asked why discs were still being sent from the HMRC offices "time to time and only encrypted when necessary" - which he said was the "worst possible way of doing this". The Tories also accused Mr Darling of complacency, saying a report from the National Audit Office suggested there was a seven-day gap between the chancellor learning of the breach, and a search of premises beginning.
Mr Darling said it was "quite normal" for information to be sent between officers but the government had to make sure procedures were tightened up particularly in relation to bulk transfers. Mr Darling said he had asked HMRC investigations officers to search the buildings and then the police were called in.
"We do need to have a thorough look at how information is transferred, ask ourselves if it needs to leave a building in the first place, and if it does need to, what is the necessary security encryption or other security measure appropriate." He said various buildings had been searched "at various times as it became clear that these disks had gone missing".
Lib Dem MP John Hemming asked why discs were still being sent from the HMRC offices "and only encrypted when necessary" - which he said was the "worst possible way of doing this".
Mr Darling said it was "quite normal" for information to be sent between officers.
But he added: "We do need to have a thorough look at how information is transferred, ask ourselves if it needs to leave a building in the first place, and if it does need to, what is the necessary security encryption or other security measure appropriate."