Brown is still trying to say that biometric ID cards will be secure. That was never the argument, the worry was always about the security of the database, now totally shot down in flames.
This database was going to be open to Police, Immigation, customs and revenue and who knows who else. The chances of someone with access being totally dishonest are far too high.

K Wells, Bognor Regis Sussex,

So more incompetence at all levels of the Civil Service in the handling of information. Seeing as Civil Servants do little more than handle information and they disdain technical knowledge in how to do this, most of them, right up to the most senior level, should be given two options - pass competency exams or face redundancy. It is what would happen in the real world of commerce but unlikely in the culture of Yes Minister.

Michael, Salisbury, UK

I do not believe that 'sacrificial scalps', such as those of the Met Commissioner or the Chancellor, serve any purpose when things go wrong on the ground, except to shed blame and remove someone who might, just might, have a more immediate grasp of events and solutions than their successor.
Having said that, if my butler informed me that the Rembrandt, a couple of Picassos and the Renoir had disappeared from the drawing-room walls some three weeks ago, I don't believe I would sit on my hands for four or five days, hoping they would turn up behind the sofa, before I got the police in - I would assume said butler had already done everything possible in order not to have to tell me.
There is more here than we're being told.

MikeM, St. Albans, England

Clearly the many years of spin render this government incapable of telling the truth.
Time for a reality check - you are supposed to represent the people - this is supposed to be a democracy.
Hopefully this debacle will put an end to the ill advised identity card scheme. For those that support the scheme - this shows just how wrong a governement can get it. Law abiding citizens could be arrested because the governement cannot control the data it holds.

Do the decent thing, Mr Brown (default PM). Step down, and take your shower of incompetants with you.

W Smith, Oldham,

Someone should introduce government departments to a low cost solution to extracting data from computer systems. As a regular user of a product called Monarch from Datawatch, I, as a non IT specialist can vouch for the simple process that Monarch uses to extract the precise data required from reports output by existing software.

I have no connection with Datawatch other than extolling the benefits of this product, which could have saved the government from the embarassment it now experiences.

Phillip Spong

Phillip Spong, Shaftesbury,

At least HMRC's chairman had the decency to resign. And the National Audit Office is doing its job well by exposing weaknesses in HMRC. Someone has to make this wretchedly incompetent government wake up and get a grip on things, instead of waffling on about targets and statistics.

After a statesman-like start to his premiership, Mr Brown is a sad disappointment. His glaring failure to sack Sir Ian Blair suggests a lack of steel - a fatal flaw in a prime minister.

Jack Green, Alnwick,

This is a Government with no moral fibre whatsoever. These are people who would sell their Grandmother if it saved their careers. They are interested in retaining power at any cost and will blame any state employee however vulnerable and inconsequential. When was the last time any Government Minister resigned over a matter such as this? For Gods sake Mr Brown call an election and help save the country from further pain and disaster!

John, manchester,

I have been in IT for forty years, starting with Barclays and working with many other banks and large organisations.

I have never heard of anything so breathtakingly incompetent.

The NAO wanted 100 specimen NI numbers at random. Ten minutes' work for a competent programmer.

And filtering the data would have cost five thousand pounds? No wonder EDS makes a profit.

Phil Payne, Sheffield,

The message from the government is that they dont care about our details or our financial data security (unless they are trying to extarct more wasteful tax collecting) so my message is why should I care, trust and believe them ever again. It beggars belief that a junior official is blamed but all the big guys are blame free- what are they accountable to or for? They cannot be clearly cannot be trusted, bring on the election Mr Brown!

Ian, Bristol, UK

I have seen HMRC's job adverts for computer programmers, rating these people as lowly clerical assistants, and promise salaries in the £15,000 region. This, despite their demanding that the programmers shall have relevant degrees and extensive experience!

Is it surprising that they have trouble attracting, and retaining, honest, intelligent and committed IT staff?

Gil, Southampton, UK

Once again the Civil Service and its culture of arrogance is shown up for what it is. Very telling that an "ex civil servant" in another report on this site states that he thinks the cure is yet more expensive posts and money thrown at them!

Darling did not post them, nor did he authorise it personally. Those responsible should be named and sacked otherwise how can we regain trust in Government departments? This arrogance and complacency damages the work of those who work for us and DO make an effort to do their jobs efficiently and properly (such as in the NHS).

This could have happened under any Government of any party. The complacency and incompetence of those who are paid to know better is at fault here.

Roy Ellor, Salford, UK

This story shows the total lack of regard for the interests of the public and their personal and private data.

That the Revenue should ignore calls to encrypt data and then send unwanted private data to save some money beggars belief.

They were duplicating our private data and distributing it to people who did not want or request it.

This is more than incompetance it is negligence.

Dan Casey, Salisbury, Wiltshire

As an experienced IT professional I find it incredible that any employee was able to download such sensitive information in the first place. The fact that someone managed to place unencrypted data on CD's just compounds the problem. There are obviously major systemic weaknesses in the way such data is handled and the whole process needs a root to branch appraisal by security specialists who know what they are doing and the cosseted civil-servant managers who allowed this exposure to exists in the first should be taken outside and shot.

Don Smith, Oxford, UK

Everyone is ducking responsibity.It is to be expected.
No one tells the straightforward truth. It is always a cover up job.
Pretty shameful,and puts another nail in the publics perception of politicians.

nic, Royan, France

So the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers has been asked in by HMRC to investigate?

Does anyone know the value of business that HM Gov does with PricewaterhouseCoopers each year!!??

So we can expect a very full and frank report then....

dom in oxford, Oxford,