Seven months ago a report by a Commons select committee gave warning that there was more bad news to come on the loss of sensitive data. And so it has proved. The latest loss, of prisoners’ details, follows a similar one involving details of thousands of seasonal agricultural workers. Unlike the disappearance last year of 25 million child benefit records – which went missing from HM Revenue & Customs after being put in the post – both the latest incidents involve private firms that had been entrusted with personal data by the Home Office.

The Justice Select Committee report disclosed an almost cavalier approach to the protection of personal details collected by the State. It found evidence of a widespread problem within the Government about setting up systems for data protection and operating them adequately. Part of that problem has been the huge growth in information gathered by Whitehall. Such huge amounts are difficult to send by computer but are easily condensed and carried about on computer discs or memory sticks – technology that has made the filing cabinet redundant.

After the loss of child benefit records, government departments have become more focused on the issue, although it is unclear whether this is a genuine concern about data protection or for fear of the political fallout if mistakes are made. The details on the agricultural workers were lost in March but this was disclosed publicly only this month in the Home Office’s accounts. This suggests that political considerations remain paramount.

Whitehall can attempt to improve systems for handling data, but with more and more work being outsourced departments are having to trust the private sector to secure information gathered by the State. They can insist in contracts that information is adequately protected, but then it is up to the private companies to ensure that this happens. It was unclear last night whether there was any such contractual obligation. The Home Office was unable to say and the company involved was not returning calls.

Catalogue of errors

— Two weeks ago the BBC started an investigation after a memory stick containing the personal data of hundreds of children was stolen

— In June secret files on the al-Qaeda threat and Iraqi security forces were left on a train by a senior intelligence official In December nine NHS trusts admitted losing personal information on thousands of patients

— In the same month CDs with information about thousands of benefit claimants were found at the home of a former contractor for the Department for Work and Pensions

— In November two HM Revenue & Customs discs with the details of 25 million people were lost. The discs held claimants’ national insurance numbers and bank account details

— In May last year a Driving Standards Agency disc with details of three million candidates for the driving test were lost in the US

Source: Times database

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