To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional training has been provided in the last two weeks to the staff of HM Revenue and Customs on the safe handling of data to counteract identity theft and other data breaches. (171372)

[holding answer 6 December 2007]: On 13 November, HMRC initiated immediate increased security.

I refer the hon. Member to my remarks to the House, on 28 November 2007, Official Report, column 344, which set out the three key steps HMRC staff must now follow before transmitting bulk data.

On 20 November, the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC’s data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers, will investigate HMRC’s security processes and procedures for data handling.

The full terms of reference for that review are available on the HM Treasury website at:

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_133_07.cfm

and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

The review will cover the steps that should be taken to ensure any further measures are adhered to consistently by all staff.