Someting is not right here. According to Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Armed_Forces
The TOTAL strength of HM Forces was 429500 in 2006, and there have been reductions in numbers since then.
Also, according to the Times:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle3215887.ece
Personnel from the MOD have been caught lying in public and don't actually know the full extent of what the information taken was.
So, 170500 people MORE than there are already in HM Forces applied to join over the last decade? That would make 164 people EVERY DAY for 10 years! Or is it everybody's details who are currently serving AND 170500 (19 people per day for 10 years)?
Either way - the questions that need answering are: Why was this data held on that laptop? What liability insurance is the MOD offering everyone affected? Does the MOD even know who is affected? Is there a backup of the data?
And when does the board of inquiry convene?