Inland Revenue loses personal data AGAIN leaving 6,500 pensioners in ID fraud peril

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The information - which includes names, addresses and National Insurance numbers - was misplaced after pension provider Countrywide Assured sent HMRC a data cartridge by courier in September.

Although the package was received, it has since gone missing from HMRC's Cardiff office.

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Shambolic: The HMRC office in Washington, which was at the centre of a missing disc scandal last month

However, officials claimed there was only a remote chance that the lapse could

lead to identity fraud. But worried policy holders were informed by letter late last week that the loss "could result in criminals posing as you in order to obtain financial gain".

The letter also advised those involved to pay the Government £12 to ensure more stringent checks are made if someone does use their details to apply for credit. One policy holder said: "Many people will be very worried.

"It's just gross incompetence and shows yet again a level of arrogance by the civil service."

Last month it emerged that HMRC had lost two computer discs containing the details of 25million child benefit claimants.

On Monday it was revealed that information on three million driving theory test candidates had also gone missing.

An HMRC spokesman said: "We are taking this loss extremely seriously. We would like to apologise to all those affected."