David Cameron has claimed that the loss of personal details by HM Revenue and Customs shows "the government has failed in its first duty to protect the public".

Speaking at prime minister's questions in the Commons on Wednesday, the Conservative leader said that millions of people will "not just be worried, they will be angry" over the failure to protect their bank account and national insurance details.

In a series of exchanges with Gordon Brown, he sought to establish that there was a "lack of leadership" and systemic failings in HM Revenue and Customs.

"If a junior official in an organisation can access so much information and send it not once, not twice but three times, that is evidence of systemic failure," Cameron argued.

"Does the prime minister accept systemic failure in this department?"

He added that the government had had 10 years to deal with all the problems of data protection.

Responding, Brown announced plans to check procedures in every department and agency, alongside a review of HMRC.

"This was a failure in implementing the proper procedures," the prime minister told MPs.

He said that under existing requirements any data should have been encrypted before being transferred.

Cameron replied that: "I have to say to the prime minister, this has been going on for years."

He added that there were failures of  security, privacy, culture and leadership at HMRC.

Brown sought to reject the criticism, saying the Conservatives had backed the creation of HMRC and had proposed cutting £650m from its budget in their last manifesto.

But the Conservative leader said that "to try and blame the Opposition is frankly pathetic".

Brown should "take some responsibility", added Cameron, who described the failings as "an appalling blunder".

And he warned that latest events should "cause the prime minister to stop and think" about plans for a national identity register.

Cameron branded the prime minister the man who "tries to control everything but actually can't run anything".

The prime minister rejected criticism that he was failing to accept responsibility.

"The idea we are complacent about this is quite ridiculous. We are taking all the action that is necessary," he told MPs. "There is no excuse for not following proper procedures."

Acting Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable suggested that the Treasury should be split up in the wake of the "twin disasters" of Northern Rock and the data loss.