To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2007, Official Report, column 1054W, on personation, if he will make an assessment of the potential risk of identity theft arising from tax-related correspondence between HM Revenue and Customs and members of the public. (183024)

HMRC utilises a variety of means to both send and receive information to and from its customers. Each of these processes has specific procedures to ensure that customer information is protected securely. Risks are assessed on a regular basis.

Kieran Poynter is conducting an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures and his interim report was published on 17 December and is available in the Library of the House. He is expected to consider the need for any further procedural changes in his final report which is due in the first half of 2008.