British Defence Ministry loses 100 computers, 47 pen drives in 2009

London, Nov. 11 (ANI): In an alarming disclosure, the British Defence Ministry has admitted to losing over 100 computers and dozens of memory sticks this year.

According to official figures, some 91 MoD laptops were lost or stolen in the first 10 months of 2009, while 23 desktop computers have gone missing.

Forty-seven USB flash memory devices have also disappeared.

The Telegraph quoted Defence Minister Kevan Jones, as saying: "The MoD takes any loss of information and associated media storage devices very seriously and has robust procedures in place to mitigate against such occurrences.

"New processes, instructions and technological aids are also being implemented to mitigate human errors and raise awareness of every individual in the Department."

The figures are just the latest in a catalogue of loss of 1,500 MoD computers since 2003.

While the number of laptops lost or stolen has fallen from 120 in the same period in 2008, the number of table top computers going missing has risen.

Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Nick Harvey said the figures were the latest example of MoD incompetence under Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth.

"It is deeply alarming that a department as sensitive as the MoD is continuing to lose large numbers of computers and memory sticks," he said.

"The apparent increase in the number of desktops lost or stolen over the last year is of particular concern. Report after report has uncovered incompetence throughout the MoD. It is time Bob Ainsworth and his department got their act together," he added.

Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox added: "Despite repeated public embarrassment, nothing seems to change. It is beginning to look as if nothing goes right under Labour." (ANI)