To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2008, Official Report, columns 675-6W, on Revenue and Customs: data protection, how many of the new data guardians will be based in (a) London, (b) Tyne and Wear and (c) elsewhere. (189371)

Since November 2007 each of HMRC's Business Units has appointed a data guardian to strengthen the management of the Department's data assets. 37 have been appointed in all.

The data guardians are appointed on a functional basis covering all areas of HMRC's business and offices throughout the UK. Data guardians are not appointed by reference to a particular geographical area, but it happens that 24 are based in London, two in Tyne and Wear and 11 in other locations.