Storm as data stick found in car park

A two-inch memory stick containing confidential data was found in a Cannock pub car park in yet another embarrassing security lapse for the Government.

A political storm broke after it was found outside The Orbital, Eastern Way.

Bridgtown-based Government IT contractors, Atos Origin, of Walsall Road, said it was removed from their premises by an employee in "direct breach" of its operating procedures. It was carrying out a full investigation of circumstances surrounding its loss and the data content.

They said they took full responsibility for the loss and would discipline the individual involved. It is reported that a 29-year-old Norton Canes man, who is an IT analyst at the firm,lost the stick two weeks ago.

The stick had codes and passwords to 50 Whitehall departments including the "source code" which could be used to hack into the Gateway system – used by millions of people to access Government services from self-assessment tax returns to paying a parking ticket.

The website was temporarily shut at the weekend. Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned that ministers were prepared to take action against the firm.