Brown apologises over lost data

By Adrian Croft

LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologised on Wednesday for the tax authority losing the personal details of nearly half the population in an error which has dealt a new blow to his government.

The loss in the post of two computer discs containing data on 25 million people exposed victims to the risk of fraud and is potentially Britain's biggest data security lapse.

It also increased pressure on Chancellor Alistair Darling, who was accused by the Conservatives of making an appalling blunder and is already under fire over a banking debacle involving mortgage lender Northern Rock.

"I profoundly regret and apologise for the inconvenience and worries that have been caused to millions of families...," Brown told parliament when questioned about the data loss.

"When mistakes happen in imposing procedures we have a duty to do everything that we can to protect the public," he said, promising a review of personal data security.

The government says there is no evidence the discs, which disappeared after being sent via Dutch postal and parcel company TNT NV, have fallen into criminal hands.

But Conservative leader David Cameron said: "Millions of people today will be worrying about the safety of their bank accounts and the security of their family details ... they will be angry that the government has failed in its first duty to protect the public."

In noisy clashes in parliament, Cameron said the breach pointed to a systemic failure in a department overseen by Brown during his decade as chancellor before he replaced Tony Blair as prime minister in June.