HMRC Lose Data

Congratulations to HMRC who have succeeded in losing data relating to the child benefit records of 15 million people.

That's quite an achievement, even by HMRC standards of incompetence.

Chancellor Alistair Darling, who is having less than a pleasant week (what with the Northern Rock debacle etc), is making a statement to MPs.

The confidential details were contained on a computer disc, and is understood to have been lost in transit.

HMRC's chairman, Paul Gray, has resigned.

Seemingly the Treasury and government have known of this for the past ten days. One might ask why it is only now that they have chosen to share this knowledge with the rest of us.

The answer is simple, the news leaked.

Revenue and Customs claims that it does not think that the records (names, addresses, date of birth and bank accounts) have fallen into the wrong hands.

This statement is of course complete nonsense, given that they don't know where the records are. Quite why they assume that the public are so naive and gullible as to believe their reassurances is beyond me, and adds insult to injury.

The Metropolitan Police have confirmed they are "making inquiries" into the discs.

This is the same government that would have you believe that data stored on their beloved id cards would be safe in their hands!

Posted in: Alistair Darling,chancellor of the exchequer,HMRC,identity theft,tax,treasury