New data blunders heap further pressure on Government

The Government has come under fire again over data security after a further series of embarrassing losses involving confidential personal information.

First it emerged yesterday that two computer discs with details of more than 7,000 motorists in Northern Ireland had gone astray in the post.

Then it was disclosed that personal details of dozens of prisoners intended for Norfolk Police were wrongly delivered to a private company.

Finally, trade unions on Merseyside revealed that personal details of 1,800 health authority staff had been accidentally sent out to a number of private firms.

The latest security breaches follow the loss by HM Revenue & Customs of two computer discs containing the entire child benefit database with details of 25 million people. The discs with the details of the motorists went missing after they were sent by Parcelforce from the Northern Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) in Coleraine, Co Londonderry, to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea. The unencrypted discs contained the names and addresses of the owners of 7,685 vehicles, together with the vehicles' details. In Norfolk, letters containing confidential details of dozens of prisoners who were about to be released had accidentally ended up with a private company.

Meanwhile, the Unite union was demanding an inquiry after personal details of 1,800 employees of the Sefton Primary Care Trust were sent to four private companies which were all bidding for a contract with the trust's sexual health department.

The shadow Transport Secretary, Theresa Villiers, said yesterday: "It beggars belief that Labour is still losing CDs with thousands of people's personal data in the post."