London: Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologised and announced an investigation today amid angry questions about how private records containing about half of Britain s bank details vanished in the post. Some 25 million people s personal data -- virtually every family with children aged under 16,likely including Brown s own -- went missing in the biggest-ever loss of personal information by any government.
Two password-protected compact discs containing the names, addresses, dates of birth and bank account details of millions disappeared after a junior official, who failed to post them recorded delivery, sent them to auditors.
The incident is a serious embarrassment for Brown who, as finance minister under Tony Blair, prided himself on restoring his Labour Party s reputation for economic competence and oversaw the creation of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the body responsible for the loss. During a bad-tempered weekly question and answer session with lawmakers at the House of Commons, Brown said: "I profoundly regret and apologise for the inconvenience and worries that have been caused to millions of families.
"When mistakes happen in enforcing procedures, we have a duty to do everything we can to protect the public." He added that Britain s top civil servant, Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O Donnell, and security experts would now make sure all departments and agencies check their data security regimes.
