The Government Legal Department says the names of civil servants were revealed by accident.
Image source, Getty ImagesA government department has launched an investigation after the names of civil servants claiming expenses was published last week.
The names were included in spending disclosures from the Government Legal Department (GLD), which gives legal advice on policy.
The department said the “regrettable” incident was now being investigated under data protection rules.
Labour had earlier claimed the incident constituted a data breach.
The document, which has since been taken down, included details of spending of more than £500 on government debit cards at the GLD between November 2021 and May 2022.
As first reported by the Sun, it contained details of a pottery painting course for civil servants at a team building session costing £1,120.
The newspaper said the ceramics workshop was attended by 35 officials.
As well as the £1,120 on the ceramics course, the expenses claims also include £965 on a height-adjustable desk.
‘Released accidentally’
Headquartered in London, the GLD is overseen by cabinet minister and the attorney general for England and Wales Suella Braverman.
The Labour Party had earlier accused the department of a “data breach” by publishing the document, which among other things identified an individual who claimed for a ticket to an online summit for LGBT leaders.
Shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry said: “I don’t know what’s worse, the attorney-general breaching her own data protection rules by mistake or her civil servants spending their working days painting pottery.”
A GLD spokesperson added it would be reviewing “the process which resulted in the names of some staff members being released accidentally on a public website”.
“We won’t be commenting publicly further at this time,” the spokesperson added.