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An Army Of Big Brothers
Following on from the latest British cock-up, when a CD containing the personal and financial details of 25m people was "lost in the post", The Independent has a look at some of the many government agencies which hold similar information on citizens.
Remember, these people think that introducing an ID card system is a worthwhile measure.
Child Benefit database: The database, at the centre of the latest crisis, holds information on all child benefit recipients, details of 25 million individuals and 7.25 million families
National Identity Register: Linked to the introduction of ID cards, it holds data on your name, address, gender, date and place of birth and biometric information such as iris patterns
Criminal Records Bureau: Contains name, address and details of any convictions for criminal offences
Passport database: Has your address, date and place of birth and your travel history
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Details of any penalty points will show up alongside your name, address and date of birth
Proposed EU-wide census: Facts and figures on population and housing across EU would go further than any national census
NHS electronic patients record system: Part of the Government's £12.4bn National Programme for IT, aims to put all patient records online
UK DNA Database: Biggest DNA list in the world covers 5.2 per cent of population. 30,000 additions every month
Inland Revenue: Has on record the name, address and financial details of everyone who pays tax in Britain
ContactPoint: Part of the Government's Every Child Matters programme, it holds details on every child in England, including name, address, gender, date of birth and an ID number.
In truth, the Indie's list is not comprehensive, and doesn't include the numerous private agencies which keep credit and financial information on file.
The British are probably the world's most watched people. Feel safer? Telegraph columnist and Conservative candidate for London's Mayor Boris Johnson doesn't. He has been the victim of "identity theft", he writes, and has some idea of how thieves can abuse precious data.
"We want to be absolutely certain that our information is treated with respect by the people in government agencies to whom we are obliged to give it.
"What is so appalling about the present episode is the casualness, the condescending indifference on the part of the state towards the privacy of British people.
"This is how they treat vital personal information - allowing a junior official to burn it on to several discs, and then losing it in the mail.
"How dare these people continue to make the case for ID cards? How dare they claim that they can be trusted with any more of our data?
"The argument is lost, and before the Government wastes £10 billion of our money, it should run up the white flag and withdraw the Bill."
