Latest Government IT failure is further dent to public confidence- Bruce

5.38.52pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 20th Nov 2007

HM Revenue and Custom's have lost personal data of 605,000 Scottish families

Responding to the Chancellor's statement on the loss by the Child Benefit agencies of 7 million families' personal and financial details, Gordon MP, Malcolm Bruce said:

"This latest breach of operational security by the Government is the latest in a long line of Government IT disasters which will severely dent public confidence in HMRC.

"The decision of HMRC's Chairman, Paul Gray to stand down is an honourable one but the system for releasing documents must be re-examined and safeguards introduced. I find it concerning that common sense did not intervene in the decision taken to send millions of families' personal details on CD by ordinary post in what was a clear breach of data protection.

"This must be the final nail in the coffin for the Identity Cards scheme. If the Government cannot be safely relied upon to protect personal data already currently stored then I believe we would be mad to give up further personal information in an unnecessary scheme which impacts on our civil liberties."

ENDS