A US information technology company has launched a probe into how the names, addresses and phone numbers of three million driving theory test candidates went missing.
Transport secretary Ruth Kelly was forced to admit yesterday that a hard disc containing the details had gone missing from a ‘secure facility’ in Iowa.
She said the admission was in the ‘interests of greater transparency’ after discs containing millions of child benefit details were lost in the post.
The theory test details went missing in May from the facility and the private contractor, Pearson Driving Assessments Ltd, is now said to be investigating the blunder.
On the discs were the telephone numbers, addresses, email addresses, names and method of payments of candidates.
Ms Kelly said the hard discs did not contain details of any individual’s bank account or credit card.