Despite already having sabotaged the security of millions the DWP are ignoring all guidance and new security measures and are still sending peoples data with passwords.

Write the password on the back of the CD instead of the front !!

Seriously, they need to establish secure lines of communication with whoever they exchange data. It is not rocket science and only requires a bit of care and awareness. The more technological they try to get the more likely the system will break down.

This was totally expected, from my point of view. None of them have any idea how to design a process at all.

In order to prevent mistakes being made, it is essential to design a process in such a way, that it is easier to do right and requires deliberate and concerted effort to get it wrong. This approach is known as 'Poke-Yoke', OK it's originally Japanese, but it works very effectively. Not only does it prevent mistakes, it cuts costs and improves efficiency, something totally alien to the bureaucratic mindset.

I'll see if I can find a link that describes this approach in greater detail.

By the way the link that you posted doesn't work, I think that someone moved the page, it's now at;

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/feedarticle/7509028 copy