HC Deb 05 November 2001 vol 374 c79W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance the Government give to Departments in cases involving the loss of personal identity documents(a) when they are being held by Departments and (b) in other circumstances. [10073]

Angela Eagle

Staff in Home Office departments handling documents of identity are instructed to treat them with proper regard to security.

Where it is confirmed after a thorough search that a document has been lost in the department, the document is replaced at the expense of the department. The circumstances are investigated and the situation monitored.

Losses in other circumstances are investigated wherever possible and the situation monitored to identify trends. Where appropriate, information to help prevent fraudulent use of documents is shared with other Departments. No general guidance to other Departments is issued.