Council pledge after benefit data row

From the Wiltshire Times, first published Friday 14th Dec 2007.

NORTH Wiltshire District Council is reassuring customers who might be concerned about the security of their personal details.

Following the recent incident when data disks containing personal details of benefit claimants went missing in transit between Government Departments, North Wiltshire District Council has reviewed its security policies.

The council has a comprehensive range of security measures in place, covering all aspects of data storage and handling, including data "in transit".

With particular reference to data sent to the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP), the council has stopped sending any data to them until they have new, secure procedures in place.

Cllr Allison Bucknell, lead member for resources and democracy, said: "We were worried to hear about the exposure of personal data following the issues with the data loss by the DWP and wanted to make sure that we are not contributing to the problems.

"The method used for data transfer to the DWP was prescribed by them, and I am pleased that we are no longer sending data to them, until they have sorted themselves out."

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