To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether HM Revenue and Customs has designated an official as responsible for data security; and if he will make a statement. (173354)

As the Principal Accounting Officer for HMRC the chairman has ultimate responsibility for data security.

In addition a senior HMRC Director was appointed as Director of Data Security on 23 November 2007 with responsibility for overseeing all of the department’s data security issues.

A data guardian role has also been created in each HMRC Business Unit to monitor data handling and transfer arrangements in all of HMRC's business areas.