The Poynter review into what went wrong at HM Revenue & Customs when it lost two data discs containing the details of up to 25 million people is now set to be released on Monday.

The Treasury confirmed that the report, which was due to be delivered today, would now come out after the weekend. There had even been suggestions it might come out as early as yesterday.

The outcome of the review is likely to be hotly awaited, with the government's competence on the line as much as the future of the tax authority.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown was yesterday forced to defend his decision to merge the Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise at a meeting of the Liaison committee of all the chairmen of all-party groups.

The reforms were recommended after a long investigation by Gus O’Donnell, who is now the Cabinet Secretary.

'One of the reasons for the reforms was that businesses complained they had to deal with the customs and excise authority on the one hand, and then with the same type of information it had provided it had to deal with the Inland Revenue,' Brown said.

'The idea was there should be one service for business through the HMRC. This reform was supported by businesses small and large.'

He said the loss of the two discs, containing information such as bank account details and National Insurance numbers, had not affected the work of the child benefit service they related to.

Brown said: 'One needs to separate the individual instance of rules not being followed and the general amalgamation of HMRC, which I think has very considerable benefits, particularly for benefits because it becomes a one-stop shop.

The Treasury said Poynter’s review should be completed by today, and Brown indicated yesterday that Chancellor Alistair Darling will make a statement on its findings next week.

The Prime Minister said: 'The first thing that we recognise, and events in recent months have shown, is that care and security of information is important.

'Every organisation, every country in the world is recognising that so much more has to be done to make for the efficient use of computerization in the future.'

Further Reading:

Poynter to deliver verdict on HMRC failures