A 'major operational problem'?
- 20 Nov 07, 11:47 AM
Intriguing news. Alistair Darling is to make a second and unexpected statement to the Commons this afternoon. It is not about Northern Rock but is, I'm told, about a "major operational problem" at Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. One rumour (and it is, I stress, no more than a rumour) has it that it is about "data loss".
Do get in touch if you know more - your message will, of course, be treated as strictly confidential.
UPDATE, 12:30 PM: It is indeed, as I mentioned above, data loss on a huge scale. I understand that the data of over a million people has been lost by HMRC. It relates, I'm told, to benefit claimants, and not the income tax system or tax credits. Although there is no evidence that anyone has yet lost money, the potential is clearly there for the false use of people's identities.
