The Commons Justice Committee of MPs says new criminal
laws should be put in place to punish reckless or repeateddata breaches.
At the moment, government departments cannot be held criminally
responsible for data-protection breaches.
It is government departments that have been at the centre of the
most recent major data breaches, including the loss of personal
details of 25 million people by
HM Revenue & Customs.
The committee said there was a "widespread problem" and
"systemic failings" in the government's handling of personal
data.
Liberal Democrat Justice Committee chairman, Alan Beith, told
the BBC, "The scale of the data loss by government bodies and
contractors is truly shocking, but the evidence we have points to
further hidden problems."
He said, "It is frankly incredible that the measures HMRC has
now put in place were not already standard procedure."
The government is currently considering proposals to amend
section 60 of the Data Protection Act through the Criminal Justice
and Immigration Bill, to help tighten up the security of personal
data.
The Justice Committee is demanding stronger enforcement powers
and greater resources for the UK Information Commissioner.
It also wants a legal obligation to report significant data
losses to those affected, as well as to the Information
Commissioner.