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.

Source : PTI