Cabinet minister's PC stolen

Desktop contained sensitive details of Hazel Blears' government work

Government has been hit by yet another data security problem

A cabinet minister has become embroiled in the latest government data security scandal with the theft of a computer from the constituency office of communities secretary Hazel Blears.

The machine, said to contain sensitive data relating to her constuency work and that of her department, was stolen from her constituency office in Salford.

A spokesman said none of the data the PC contained could be used to steal identities and it did not contain any security information.

A "routine" police investigaton is under way.