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Fresh data loss details expected Millions of drivers' data 'lost'
(about 2 hours later)
Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly is set to give details to MPs at about 1730 about the loss of motorists' personal details held by her department. The details of 3 million candidates for the driving theory test have gone missing, the BBC understands.
It is the latest in a series of data losses to have emerged since HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) lost discs with 25m people's personal details on it. The loss took place when the hard drive of a computer belonging to a private contractor to the driving standards agency went missing in the US.
Her statement will come straight after one from Chancellor Alistair Darling on an interim report into the discs' loss. Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly is due to give details to MPs at about 1730.
It is the latest in a series of data losses since HM Revenue and Customs lost discs holding 25m people's data, including bank account details.
Chancellor Alistair Darling has been given an interim report into that loss, but said conclusions would be outlined in a full report out next year.
The head of HMRC, and its data security chief, are also to be probed by MPs.The head of HMRC, and its data security chief, are also to be probed by MPs.
COMMONS TIMINGS 1530: Brown on EU summit1630: Darling on lost discs1730: Kelly on DFT data1730: MPs grill HMRC bossesCOMMONS TIMINGS 1530: Brown on EU summit1630: Darling on lost discs1730: Kelly on DFT data1730: MPs grill HMRC bosses
Ms Kelly will outline what happened in the latest incident, which is not understood to involve driving licences.
The statement is officially listed as being about the storage and use of data at the Department for Transport.
However, according to the Sunday Times, it is likely to lead to an overhaul of the way data is handled by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
It was already known that discs with details of more than 7,000 motorists had gone missing in the post between the Northern Ireland Driver and Vehicle Agency in Northern Ireland and the DVLA in Swansea.
According to the Sunday Times a more serious loss of data had now been uncovered.
A transport department spokesman suggested the new data loss was "historical".
The two Child Benefit discs that went missing in October contained names, dates of birth, bank and address details.The two Child Benefit discs that went missing in October contained names, dates of birth, bank and address details.
'Lost in the post'
They were lost when a junior official at HM Revenue and Customs in Tyne and Wear sent them by courier unregistered and unencrypted, to the National Audit Office in London - but they did not arrive.They were lost when a junior official at HM Revenue and Customs in Tyne and Wear sent them by courier unregistered and unencrypted, to the National Audit Office in London - but they did not arrive.
It is believed police think the discs may have accidentally been thrown out as rubbish.It is believed police think the discs may have accidentally been thrown out as rubbish.
Officers have visited several tips around London to check what waste was delivered there.Officers have visited several tips around London to check what waste was delivered there.
A large scale hunt for the discs has failed to find them.A large scale hunt for the discs has failed to find them.
The government has apologised and said there was no evidence the discs had fallen into the wrong hands.The government has apologised and said there was no evidence the discs had fallen into the wrong hands.
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.
Data security grillingData security grilling
Mr Darling said some other missing discs would also be looked at as part the inquiry by Mr Poynter, UK chairman at PriceWaterhouseCoopers.Mr Darling said some other missing discs would also be looked at as part the inquiry by Mr Poynter, UK chairman at PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
The report is not expected to be extensive - a fuller version is expected by spring 2008. A full version of the report is expected by spring 2008.
He is also expected to give details of an interim report from Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell into data security across the whole of Government. He also gave details of an interim report from Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell into data security across the whole of Government.
It has been suggested by the transport department that the latest DVLA data loss had emerged as a result of the review by Sir Gus.It has been suggested by the transport department that the latest DVLA data loss had emerged as a result of the review by Sir Gus.
While Ms Kelly gives details of the new data loss to the Commons at 1730, MPs on the public accounts committee will grill David Hartnett, acting chairman of HMRC, and Nick Lodge, HMRC's director of data security about the loss of the child benefit disc.While Ms Kelly gives details of the new data loss to the Commons at 1730, MPs on the public accounts committee will grill David Hartnett, acting chairman of HMRC, and Nick Lodge, HMRC's director of data security about the loss of the child benefit disc.