Cultural failures at root of HMRC data loss, says report

A report to be published today is expected to cast doubt over the government's assertion that a junior member of staff at the HMRC was at fault for the loss of a disc containing confidential information of 25 million Britons.

The Poynter report is expected to highlight cultural failures and inappropriate practices within the HMRC, rather than pointing the finger at individuals.

HMRC sent password-protected CDs containing personal data on every child in the country through the post in October, but the disks did not arrive. The CD contained national insurance numbers and bank account details of parents and carers.

The government blamed a junior employee for breaking HMRC proceedures by sending the discs through the post. The discs have never been recovered.