Former HMRC head still in government
The former head of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), who quit over the loss of 25 million people’s personal data, is still working for the civil service, it has emerged.
Paul Gray was praised for his honesty and integrity when he stepped down less than two weeks ago over the security breach.
However, it emerged last night he has been offered a short-term position advising Cabinet secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell on a salary of more than £200,000.
The Cabinet Office said Mr Gray was being kept on temporarily for “contractual reasons” and there would be no additional cost to the public purse.
Vince Cable, acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, told Channel 4 News the appointment “makes the whole resignation look absolutely cynical”.
A Cabinet Office spokesman explained that under the terms of Mr Gray’s contract, he would continue to be paid until the end of the year, regardless of whether he works or not.
He said: “In the meantime he has agreed to a request from Cabinet secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell to undertake a short piece of work on cross-government matters until Christmas.”
Given that he “could receive payment for no work or receive payment for doing some work” the Cabinet Office decided it was “in the public interest” that he did some work.
The spokesman confirmed Mr Gray will leave the civil service payroll on December 31st.
Mr Gray resigned when the news broke that HMRC had lost two computer discs with the confidential details of 25 million child benefit claimants in the post.
A police search is now underway for the missing discs.
