Prime Minister's question asked in the House of Commons, by Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton (Conservative). It was answered on Wednesday, 21 November 2007 on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Engagements

Question: I join the Prime Minister in paying tribute to Captain John McDermid, who was killed in Afghanistan last Wednesday, and to the two service personnel who were killed when their RAF Puma helicopter was lost in Iraq last night. They all died serving our country. I also join the Prime Minister in congratulating the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on their diamond jubilee. They have had a remarkable life together, and a life of public service. Millions of people will today be worrying about the safety of their bank accounts and the security of their family details, but they will not just be worried; they will be angry that the Government have failed in their first duty—to protect the public. Does the Prime Minister think that the matter should be treated as an isolated incident, or does he believe that there is wider, systemic failure and a lack of leadership at Revenue and Customs?

Answer: It is precisely because we have to check all procedures, not just in HMRC but in all departments, that I have asked the Cabinet Secretary to conduct a review. There is also the review that will be conducted by the chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers into HMRC itself. I have to tell the right hon. Gentleman that there is no evidence of fraudulent activity taking place, and that this was a failure in implementing the proper procedures. It is important that he should know that the procedures that should have been followed are these: only authorised staff must be allowed access to protectively marked information; information must not be removed without appropriate authorisation; and encryption should be used whenever any information is being sent. Those were the procedures. They are in existence now, and they should have been operated.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 467 c1179
Session: 2007-08
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Related items: Government: Data Transfer Protocols
Monday, 21 January 2008
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House of Lords; Government: Data Transfer Protocols
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Thursday, 10 January 2008
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House of Lords; Data Protection
Thursday, 6 December 2007
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House of Lords; Revenue and Customs: Loss of CDs
Wednesday, 5 December 2007
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Subjects: Child benefit Data protection Personal records Revenue and Customs
Link: View this Prime Minister's question on www.publications.parliament.uk