THE Government is being warned to take extra care in awarding a contract to run the 2011 census by the human rights lawyer set to defend the Bolton South-east seat at the next general election.
Yasmin Qureshi, who will stand for Labour because Dr Brian Iddon is retiring, said Whitehall needed to "do its homework" following embarrassing recent incidents in which data has been lost.
US technology firm Lockheed Martin, which also makes weapons and is the largest provider of IT services and training to the US Government is in the running for the contract.
It is up against German telecommunications company T-Systems.
Ms Qureshi said: "In light of what has happened with data being lost recently, people will want to know that their details are secure. The Government needs to look carefully at the background of the companies involved."
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