Do you trust the Department for Work and Pensions with your data?

Posted on July 22nd, 2009.

Post Categories: DWP • uk government
Tags: data loss, Department for Work and Pensions, DWP

If the answer is yes, then you should think again!

Details published from DWP themselves from the DWP Survey 2009 – a survey of 73,006 people (71%) – a response of under 3 in 4 members of staff, show some worrying statistics. Is your data safe?

I am aware of DWP’s data security policies and put them into practice.

From question 38 of the survey (the statement above), 94% of the 73,006 respondents answered positively. This leaves 6% – doesn’t sound like much. Taking into account over 30,000 members of staff didn’t enter the survey, 68,626 people of the 73,006 respondents were aware of the data security policies and actively implements in their daily duties. Great!

However…

This leaves 4,380 members of staff who handle your confidential information and personal details not even knowing about the data security policies – and therefore have no chance of following them.

I have received training on data handling and security procedures in relation to protecting personal and/or sensitive data.

From question 39 of the survey (the statement above), 84% of the 73,006 respondents answered positively. Take into account that 7,300 (the 10% difference between questions) members of staff who are aware of the DWP data security policy, never even received training on such policy, and therefore you can’t guarantee it is being followed correctly.

This means 11,681 members of staff never received training for handling personal and sensitive information – 61, 325 did, so thats over 5 times more people who do… the chance of the 1-in-6 abusing your information is still extremely high.

Adjustments (predictions)

Roughly if 73,006 people were 71% of the DWP workforce – lets take the figure as if it was 75%, divide it by 3 to get 25%, makes approx 24,335 unaccounted for. For purposes of this article we will use this additional figure to the above percentages (this isn’t accurate as this could be in favour or against).

We are not interested in compliance but those which may cause a data breach.

I am aware of DWP’s data security policies and put them into practice.

Actual Amount     Percentage     Predicted amount (24,335 at same percentage)    Total

4,380                      6% (94%)                                              1,460 5,840

The actual real amount could be as high as 5,840 (estimated).

I have received training on data handling and security procedures in relation to protecting personal and/or sensitive data.

Actual Amount     Percentage     Predicted amount (24,335 at same percentage)    Total

11,681                      16% (84%)                                              3,894 15,575

The actual real amount could be as high as 15,575 (estimated).

Should I be concerned about my details?

I think you should, I certainly am… up to 15,575 have never received training of handling sensitive information and up to 5,840 are unaware of the policy existance. This means 9,735 members of staff are likely to be following the policy wrong as they have not shown how to implement it with their work. DWP consists of more than just the Jobcentre Plus however, the Jobcentre Plus in the main services provided.

Make a Comment

3 Responses to “Do you trust the Department for Work and Pensions with your data?”

1. 1

   

   unemployedrabbit says:
   

   July 24th 2009 at 5:41 pm  

   When I was invited for my first meeting with my New Deal advisor, she pressed print on a new ‘action plan’ for me, then brought some sheets to me and told me to sign, without giving me any time to read them through. I only discovered when I got home that the papers weren’t mine- they were the action plan of a postmaster general. I had been given his data, including name, address and national insurance number. As I’m an honest person, I brought it back and explained what had happened. She took them off me and never once offered an apology nor made any comment as to chasing up the missing printouts of my data. :S Scary!

2. 2

   

   Ipswich Unemployed Action says:
   

   July 24th 2009 at 6:24 pm  

   It is a shame you didn’t photocopy it, took a picture of it or scanned it. Would have been great to post on this site as evidence (obviously blurring some of the details) to show the breach. I have also experienced being given hand out of jobs with others names, address and N.I on.

   In fact, I went down to the Jobcentre today, 2 employees at the front on the desk who decides to disappear every few minutes – security at the back on the Jobcentre near where people sit ready to be called up to sign on – not at the crowded front where people were pissed off having to stand etc. and waiting for some one to see them. Staff at the closest desks were working, I would have picked up the few clipboards with peoples names, national insurance numbers, cycles etc. very casually and walked off with it. I would have obviously been seen on at least a few cameras of course, quality of which I doubt isn’t good enough for evidence but the point is it could have easily happened.

   Also, why were 2 people employed to be on front desk serving “customers” and being customer service when ocne they have finished speaking to one person they wonder off down the other side of the building for several minutes before returning? It doesn’t take a fraction of that to hand the signing on books out plus not both of the staff need to do it at the same time – thats not to mention the security guards when they are up at the front who normally do that anyway.

   Talking of Jobcentre and Security – why does a busy and rather “heated” Jobcentre at times (with so many people standing at the front waiting to be called) mentally pushes the security to the opposite side of the building? H&S i guess!

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