MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
News Release (134/2008) issued by The Government News Network on 25
June 2008
The Ministry of
Defence (MOD) today published Sir Edmund Burton's report into
the laptops containing the personal details of individuals who
expressed interest in joining the Armed Forces.
Sir Edmund Burton, who is chairman of the Information Assurance
Advisory Council and supports the Cabinet Office in the
implementation of the Government's information assurance
strategy, was invited to conduct a full investigation into the
circumstances that led to the loss of the data in January 2008 and
consider the broader MOD approach to data protection.
Sir Edmund Burton found MOD policies and procedures are generally
fit for purpose and cited examples of good practice by the
Department, particularly the measures introduced after the loss
which were effective in preventing similar damaging losses. But he
identified a number of areas where MOD needs to do better in
protecting personal data.
The MOD has accepted all of Sir Edmund's 51 recommendations
and has prepared a comprehensive action plan to implement them.
Published alongside the report, the action plan has drawn on the
broader findings of the Cabinet Secretary's Review of Data
Handling Procedures in Government, whose final report has also
been published today.
Permanent Under Secretary, Bill Jeffrey said:
"The Ministry of Defence is grateful for the effort that Sir
Edmund and his team have put into this Review.
"We deeply regret the losses of personal data. We have
identified weaknesses within parts of the MOD that led to this
situation and I am confident that we are taking the necessary
steps to address them.
"I am absolutely determined to make sure that we learn the
lessons arising from the loss of this data and that we should do
everything possible to make sure that this type of thing does not
happen again."
NOTES TO EDITOR
1. Secretary of State for Defence, Des Browne's Written
Ministerial Statement can be seen on Hansard http://www.parliament.uk