Missing in transit

The British Government in London has announced it has lost the personal and financial details of a trifling 25 million of its citizens. Like you do. They were contained in two computer disks, sent from HM Revenue and Customs office in Newcastle to the National Audit office in London - three times over, never to arrive.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer (the Finance Secretary) has made a statement in the House of Commons and the head of HM R & C has resigned. The implications are extremely serious. Although no evidence has so far emerged that the data have fallen into criminal hands, people are urged to carefully check their financial details, like bank and building society account statements and credit arrangements.

This affects 7.5 million families, 10 million adults and 15 million children.
Further details on the BBC News website, including recommendations on actions to take.

Although it is not strictly speaking the Government's fault, it is the actions of a Government agency that are in the spotlight here, and the head of HM Revenue and Customs has already quit. Chancellor Alistair Darling, barely 5 months in post, should consider his position, also in view of the Northern Rock disaster.

This bank had to be bailed out, to the tune of £25bn, this summer. Thousands of customers rushed to withdraw their deposits, and there are now questions over the safety of taxpayers' money. Should the bank have been given all that money, I wonder.