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| Tougher data laws needed say MPs | Tougher data laws needed say MPs |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Reckless or repeated breaches of data security should become a criminal offence, a committee of MPs has said. | Reckless or repeated breaches of data security should become a criminal offence, a committee of MPs has said. |
| At the moment government departments cannot be held criminally responsible for data protection breaches. | At the moment government departments cannot be held criminally responsible for data protection breaches. |
| But in a report on the "truly shocking" loss of 25m people's personal details by HM Revenue and Customs, the Commons justice committee demands tougher laws. | |
| The MPs said there was a "widespread problem" and "systemic failings" in the government's handling of personal data. | The MPs said there was a "widespread problem" and "systemic failings" in the government's handling of personal data. |
| Committee chairman Alan Beith said: "The scale of the data loss by government bodies and contractors is truly shocking but the evidence we have had points to further hidden problems. | Committee chairman Alan Beith said: "The scale of the data loss by government bodies and contractors is truly shocking but the evidence we have had points to further hidden problems. |
| "It is frankly incredible, for example, that the measures HMRC has put in place were not already standard procedure." | "It is frankly incredible, for example, that the measures HMRC has put in place were not already standard procedure." |
| Families warned | Families warned |
| The report - The Protection of Private Data - follows the loss of the Child Benefit data on two discs sent unencrypted by HMRC in the North East to the National Audit Office in London. | The report - The Protection of Private Data - follows the loss of the Child Benefit data on two discs sent unencrypted by HMRC in the North East to the National Audit Office in London. |
| Further data losses have emerged as a result of investigations into how Whitehall handles people's details. | Further data losses have emerged as a result of investigations into how Whitehall handles people's details. |
| For its short inquiry the committee took evidence from Information Commissioner Richard Thomas on the subject. | For its short inquiry the committee took evidence from Information Commissioner Richard Thomas on the subject. |
| He left the committee "extremely concerned" that there were more cases of personal data loss to come to light. | He left the committee "extremely concerned" that there were more cases of personal data loss to come to light. |
| As well as the new criminal laws, the committee also want stronger enforcement powers for the information commissioner. | As well as the new criminal laws, the committee also want stronger enforcement powers for the information commissioner. |
| They also want "proper resources" for the commissioner's office. | They also want "proper resources" for the commissioner's office. |
| They say the need for a "proper approach" to data handling is even more important given the proposed database of every child in the UK with their details available to "many thousands or people" - and the proposed identity card scheme. | They say the need for a "proper approach" to data handling is even more important given the proposed database of every child in the UK with their details available to "many thousands or people" - and the proposed identity card scheme. |
| The MPs also say moves to allow other EU member states access to data held in the UK on UK citizens means "the importance of restricting the amount of data held, as well as proper policing of who had access to it takes on even greater importance". | The MPs also say moves to allow other EU member states access to data held in the UK on UK citizens means "the importance of restricting the amount of data held, as well as proper policing of who had access to it takes on even greater importance". |
| The prime minister and chancellor apologised at the time and an inquiry is under way, alongside a police investigation. | The prime minister and chancellor apologised at the time and an inquiry is under way, alongside a police investigation. |
| Millions of families were told to be on the alert for fraudulent use of their details, which include children's names, addresses, dates of birth and National Insurance and bank details. | Millions of families were told to be on the alert for fraudulent use of their details, which include children's names, addresses, dates of birth and National Insurance and bank details. |