The figures - which show that 20 USB sticks were also lost or stolen during the period - do not show whether the data on the PCs and storage devices was encrypted and/or sensitive, but Infosecurity notes that previous MoD security breaches suggest that at least some of the information was likely to be sensitive.

According to newswire reports, at least one Blackberry smartphone was also lost or stolen during the same period.

Under the UK government's freedom of information rules, Infosecurity understands that 217 laptops were lost or stolen during 2008.

This suggests that, although slightly improved, the figures for lost or stolen data-carrying devices will still be embarrassing for the MoD during 2009.

The figures, if extrapolated for all UK government departments, do not make for pretty reading, Infosecurity notes.

Weekend newswire reports quote Bob Ainsworth, the UK Armed Forces minister, as denying that his department was careless with its computers and data storage devices.

Ainsworth is quoted as telling media sources that the Ministry of Defence takes any loss of information and associated media storage devices very seriously and has robust procedures in place to mitigate against such occurrences.

The Minister is quoted as adding that new processes, instructions and technological aids are also being implemented to mitigate human errors and raise awareness of every individual in the Department.