Child Benefit: Personal Records

Mr. Philip Hammond
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis the police are conducting an investigation into the loss of child benefit data at HM Revenue and Customs; and whether it is classified as a criminal investigation.

Jane Kennedy
I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the Chancellor's statement to the House of 20 November 2007, Official Report, column 1101W, in which the Chancellor confirmed he instructed the then Chairman of HMRC to call in the police on 14 November 2007.