ALISTAIR Darling has today "apologised unreservedly" for a security lapse at Revenue and Customs which led to the disappearance of two computer discs containing personal data on 25 million people.
Around half a million people in the west of England are believed to have been affected by the error, in which a junior official sent the entire child benefit database to the National Audit Office via unregistered post. It never arrived at its destination.
The Chancellor said he had ordered an inquiry into security procedures at Revenue and Customs and said there was currently no evidence to suggest the information - which includes names, addresses, dates of birth, child benefit numbers, national insurance numbers and bank and building society account details - had fallen into the wrong hands.
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