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Loan application forms go missing Loan application forms go missing
(30 minutes later)
Hundreds of forms containing personal and confidential information about members of the public were lost by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).Hundreds of forms containing personal and confidential information about members of the public were lost by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Staff in Sheffield have been told that 800 budgeting loan applications have been lost in transit between Sheffield and Newcastle. Staff were told that 800 budgeting loan applications have been lost in transit between Sheffield and Newcastle.
In an email, DWP staff were told that customers had been querying the status of their missing applications.In an email, DWP staff were told that customers had been querying the status of their missing applications.
Depots of courier company TNT are being searched for the missing parcels. In September, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) lost discs with the details of 25 million child benefit claimants.
Depots of courier company TNT are being searched for the lates missing parcels.
'Extremely concerned''Extremely concerned'
Interest-free budgeting loans are available to people who claim benefits such as income support so they can spread the cost of one-off expenses, such as household appliances.Interest-free budgeting loans are available to people who claim benefits such as income support so they can spread the cost of one-off expenses, such as household appliances.
Lee Rock, from the civil service union PCS, told BBC Look North the forms contained applicants' names, addresses, dates of birth, National Insurance numbers and bank details.Lee Rock, from the civil service union PCS, told BBC Look North the forms contained applicants' names, addresses, dates of birth, National Insurance numbers and bank details.
He said the loss of the forms was "outrageous" and urged anyone who had applied for a budgeting loan in recent weeks to contact the DWP.He said the loss of the forms was "outrageous" and urged anyone who had applied for a budgeting loan in recent weeks to contact the DWP.
In a statement, the DWP said: "Clearly we are extremely concerned that these payments have been delayed and we are striving to ensure no one is in hardship because of what has occurred.In a statement, the DWP said: "Clearly we are extremely concerned that these payments have been delayed and we are striving to ensure no one is in hardship because of what has occurred.
"We are carrying out extensive checks with TNT to track down the whereabouts of the claims concerned.""We are carrying out extensive checks with TNT to track down the whereabouts of the claims concerned."
Missing discsMissing discs
The loss comes two months after HM Revenue and Customs lost discs containing the details of 25 million people. The loss comes two months after HMRC lost discs containing the details of 25 million people.
The discs, which contain the entire child benefit database, were sent by courier to the National Audit Office in October - but they did not arrive.The discs, which contain the entire child benefit database, were sent by courier to the National Audit Office in October - but they did not arrive.
Police are still looking for them.Police are still looking for them.
And on Tuesday the Driver and Vehicle Agency in Northern Ireland said it had lost the personal details of 6,000 people.And on Tuesday the Driver and Vehicle Agency in Northern Ireland said it had lost the personal details of 6,000 people.
The data was on two discs and went missing after being sent to the agency's headquarters in Swansea.The data was on two discs and went missing after being sent to the agency's headquarters in Swansea.