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Millions of L-driver details lost Millions of L-driver details lost
(about 1 hour later)
The details of three million candidates for the driving theory test have gone missing, Ruth Kelly has told MPs.The details of three million candidates for the driving theory test have gone missing, Ruth Kelly has told MPs.
Names, addresses and phone numbers - but not financial data - were among details on a computer hard drive which went missing in the US in May. Names, addresses and phone numbers - but no financial information - were among details on a computer hard drive which went missing in the US in May.
It belonged to a contractor working for the Driving Standards Agency, the transport secretary told MPs.It belonged to a contractor working for the Driving Standards Agency, the transport secretary told MPs.
It is the latest in a series of data losses since discs with 25m people's details on were lost by HM Revenue. It is the latest in a series of data losses since HM Revenue and Customs lost discs with 25m people's details.
Ms Kelly said the details of learner drivers had been formatted specifically for the contractor, Pearson Driving Assessments Ltd, and was not readily accessible or usable by third parties. Ms Kelly said the details of learner drivers had been formatted specifically for the contractor, Pearson Driving Assessments Ltd, and was not "readily usable or accessible" by third parties.
Risks 'not substantial'Risks 'not substantial'
She said the details were not sent in the post - but the hard drive had not been found where it had been expected to be, in the "security facility" in Iowa. She said the details were not sent in the post - but the hard drive had not been found where it had been expected to be, in the "secure facility" in Iowa.
She said the information commission had judged the risks presented by the loss were not "substantial" as the details did not include bank account details, National Insurance numbers, driving licence numbers or dates of birth. She said the information commission had judged the risks presented by the loss were not "substantial" and there was no need to notify each person individually.
MISSING DRIVERS' DETAILS NameAddressPhone numberFee paidTest centrePayment codeEmail where provided class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7148770.stm">Analysis: Testing times for PM class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7148842.stm">'No fraud' from lost discs The details did not include bank account details, National Insurance numbers, driving licence numbers or dates of birth, she said.
But she apologised for anyone for any "uncertainty or concern" caused to anyone whose details might have been included - who took a driving theory test between September 2004 and April 2007. MISSING DRIVERS' DETAILS NameAddressPhone numberFee paidTest centrePayment codeE-mail where provided class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7148770.stm">Analysis: Testing times for PM class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7148842.stm">'No fraud' from lost discs
An advice line has been set up by the DSA for those candidates who might have concerns. "Nevertheless I apologise for any uncertainty or concern that these individuals may experience," Ms Kelly said.
However her Tory shadow Theresa Villiers said the government was failing in its duty to obey its own laws on data security and said it was further evidence of a "systemic failure" by the government in handling people's private data. She added the Driving Standards Agency was offering advice on the direct.gov website, and had set up a dedicated advice line for candidates who took their driving theory test between September 2004 and April 2007.
The statement followed straight on from Chancellor Alistair Darling's presentation of an interim report by Kieran Poynter, UK chairman at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, into the loss of the child benefit data by Revenue and Customs in October. Ms Kelly said the loss had emerged as part of a Department of Transport audit, as part of a review of data security across government departments.
Searches ending Pearson had since changed its procedures and used electronic transfer instead of hard drives to move data, she said.
Mr Darling said there was still no evidence of any fraud from the loss of the two discs containing names, dates of birth, bank and address details. But police searches for the discs were "coming to a close". 'Systemic failure'
And he said Mr Poynter's review had prioritised the immediate security measures that were needed at HMRC. She also said the Department of Transport was making changes to the way it handled data - including more electronic transfer and "secure couriers" for that information which could not be transmitted that way, as well as increased emphasis on the Data Protection Act.
Responsibility for systemic failure does not lie with junior staff - it lies at the very top Philip HammondConservatives It follows the loss of personal details of more than 6,000 drivers by the Driver and Vehicle Agency in Coleraine, Northern Ireland in November.
Among them were banning the transfer of "bulk data" without certain security measures, and disabling lap tops to stop information being downloaded without the permission of a senior manager.
But Mr Darling said it would be "wholly inappropriate" to draw final conclusions while more inquiries were being carried out. The full report is due "in the first half" of 2008, he said.
Philip Hammond, for the Conservatives, said it had been "the most catastrophic data security breach in British history" and criticised Mr Darling's early explanation that a junior official who had not followed the rules was responsible.
'Disaster'
"Responsibility for systemic failure does not lie with junior staff - it lies at the very top," he said.
"In the face of the overwhelming scale of systemic failure behind this disaster, this statement can only be described as a wholly inadequate response from a wholly inadequate chancellor."
HAVE YOUR SAY Lost social security data, lost learner driver data. Fiasco after fiasco Steve Godrich Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY Lost social security data, lost learner driver data. Fiasco after fiasco Steve Godrich Send us your comments
Meanwhile, a capability review of HM Revenue and Customs found that "the senior leadership has not been successful in injecting pace, confidence and dynamism throughout the department". Ms Kelly said that agency would be merged with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea to reduce the risk of it happening again.
The top team "has more to do to demonstrate that it can take the tough decisions required to set priorities and to bring about organisational clarity". And in October, the prime minister had to apologise for the loss of two discs containing the entire child benefit database - personal details of 25 million people including National Insurance numbers and bank accounts.
It also needed "a robust plan" to "resolve staff uncertainty" and be clear about what HMRC will look like in the future. Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said it was further evidence of a lack of competence and "systemic failure" by the government in handling private data.
A capability review of the Treasury found the department was "not driving change with sufficient passion and pace". 'Spy-in-the-sky'
"Quite simply the government is failing in its duty to obey its own laws on data protection," she said.
Ms Villiers told Ms Kelly: "This incident and the HM Revenue and Customs disaster are another blow to your plans for an untested spy-in-the-sky national road pricing scheme."
Susan Kramer, for the Liberal Democrats described the further loss of data from another government department as "mind-bending".
She sought assurance from Ms Kelly that fraudsters could not create false identifications from the lost data.
Ms Kelly's statement followed straight on from Chancellor Alistair Darling's presentation of an interim report by Kieran Poynter, UK chairman at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, into the loss of the child benefit discs.
Mr Darling said there was still no evidence of any fraud from the loss of the two discs containing names, dates of birth, bank and address details.
And he said Mr Poynter's review had prioritised the immediate security measures that were needed at HMRC.