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Fresh benefit data lapse admitted Fresh benefit data lapse admitted
(31 minutes later)
An ex-contractor at the Department for Work and Pensions had two discs with thousands of benefit claimants' details for more than a year, the DWP says.An ex-contractor at the Department for Work and Pensions had two discs with thousands of benefit claimants' details for more than a year, the DWP says.
The unencrypted discs revealed the type of benefits paid, but a DWP spokesman said they did not contain bank details.The unencrypted discs revealed the type of benefits paid, but a DWP spokesman said they did not contain bank details.
The woman told the News of the World she forgot to return them after she stopped working for the DWP a year ago.The woman told the News of the World she forgot to return them after she stopped working for the DWP a year ago.
In October, two child benefit discs containing the personal details of 25 million people went missing.In October, two child benefit discs containing the personal details of 25 million people went missing.
'Horror'
The DWP discs contain names, addresses, dates of birth and National Insurance numbers.The DWP discs contain names, addresses, dates of birth and National Insurance numbers.
They were part of a project aimed at encouraging people to switch from a giro to a credit transfer system.They were part of a project aimed at encouraging people to switch from a giro to a credit transfer system.
It is believed there could be up to 9,000 names on each disc.It is believed there could be up to 9,000 names on each disc.
The government's reaction to this latest lapse is likely to be one of horror, says the BBC's Ian Palmer, coming so soon after the embarrassing loss of the child benefit discs.
He said it would also call into question its aim to push through a national identity card scheme.
The public would find it hard to back the scheme if government departments could not be trusted with sensitive information, he added.
'Thrown out''Thrown out'
On 18 October, HM Revenue and Customs sent two discs containing the entire child benefit database, unregistered and unencrypted, to the National Audit Office - but they did not arrive.On 18 October, HM Revenue and Customs sent two discs containing the entire child benefit database, unregistered and unencrypted, to the National Audit Office - but they did not arrive.
They were sent by courier from Tyne and Wear to the National Audit Office in London.They were sent by courier from Tyne and Wear to the National Audit Office in London.
It is believed police fear the discs may have accidentally been thrown out as rubbish.It is believed police fear the discs may have accidentally been thrown out as rubbish.
They have visited several tips around London to check what waste was delivered there.They have visited several tips around London to check what waste was delivered there.
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.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.
But millions of families have been told to be on alert for fraudsters using their details, stored on the discs.But millions of families have been told to be on alert for fraudsters using their details, stored on the discs.
An interim report into how the discs went missing is expected in December.An interim report into how the discs went missing is expected in December.