Articles | Warning over missing MoD hard drive

Warning over missing MoD hard drive

Published: Monday, 13 October 2008, 10:09PM

MPs have been warned that a missing Ministry of Defence computer hard drive may contain the personal information of 1.7 million people.

The drive was reported missing last week by an IT firm contracted to the MoD.

Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth said information on the disk, which went missing at the EDS site in Hook, Hampshire, was "unlikely" to have been encrypted.

In a written statement to Parliament, he said the disk drive had been used with the military training administration and financial management information system (Tafmis).

He said it "may, in the worst case contain details relating to 1.7 million individuals who have enquired about joining the Armed Forces".

Mr Ainsworth told MPs would-be recruits who had made "casual enquiries" may only have a name and contact details stored.

But, he added: "For those who applied to join the forces more extensive personal data may be held.

"In some cases this will include personal information such as next of kin details, passport and National Insurance numbers, drivers' licence and bank details and National Health Service Number.

"EDS assesses that it is unlikely that the device was encrypted because it was stored within a secure site that exceeded the standards necessary for restricted information."

The disk was found to be missing during an audit of storage media at the EDS site in Hook, Hampshire.

Mr Ainsworth added: "Under the terms of its contract EDS is required to protect all personal information in its care."

Last week it was reported the disk could contain the details of up to 100,000 Army, Navy and RAF personnel and 600,000 potential recruits.