Government Must Reassure Brent Parents After Latest Labour Blunder - Teather

2.59.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 21st Nov 2007

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather is urging child benefit recipients in Brent to check their account statements carefully to see if they have been the victim of identity fraud.

Last night the Government announced that the data records of up to 7.3 million child benefit recipients, including their bank account numbers, may have been compromised by HM Revenue & Customs.

According to a statement made by the Government, the data went missing when the records were passed between two government departments. The information that has been lost includes the following details for child benefit beneficiaries:

· Name

· Address

· National Insurance Number

· Date of Birth

· Account details to which money was paid

· Child's name and the date of birth for whom child benefit is paid

Sarah has also tabled a parliamentary question asking if the Chancellor will contact those in Brent who have been directly effected.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"There will be a great deal of anger that the Government may have put people in Brent at risk of identity fraud. I would urge anyone who suspects that their personal information may have been compromised to check their bank statements regularly.

"There is absolutely no excuse for the Government to be careless with people's personal information. I have asked the Labour Minister responsible to ensure that HM Revenue & Customs will contact all those in Brent who may have been directly affected."

Liberal Democrat Lead Council Member for Crime and Community Safety, Cllr Haley Matthews, said:

"After this latest Government blunder, can we really trust Labour's plans on ID Cards and that the data they are asking for will be safe? The money would be better spent on proper policing."

Notes:

(1) Anyone who believes that they are a victim of fraud should contact their bank or building society.

(2) The HMRC Child Benefit Helpline number is 084 5302 1444.

(3) Sarah has asked Alistair Darling, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the following questions:

a) If he will notify all those who may have been directly effected by the loss of personal data from the Child Benefit database.

b) How many people he estimates will be directly effected by the loss of personal data from the Child Benefit database in each London borough.

c) What he estimates will be the total cost to his department of the loss of personal information from the Child Benefit database, including setting up the HMRC Child Benefit Helpline.