A shocking 95 per cent of MPs did not respond when a security firm offered them free laptop locks in July this year.

Mobile accessories supplier Kensington offered 150 MPs a laptop lock, but received responses from only eight, all of whom accepted.

The respondents were three Labour MPs, three Liberal Democrats and two Conservatives.

Kensington made the offer after it was revealed in March that 1,052 government laptops have been lost over the past decade.

MPs are not demonstrating a will to improve security, according to Stephen Hoare, product marketing manager at Kensington Europe.

"Loss of public data is not a new issue but it seems that government ministers are ambivalent to the threat," he said.

"Government officials are continuing to ignore basic security guidelines when they should be doing their utmost to ensure the safety of sensitive information.

"It is a waste of taxpayers' money, and further thought needs to be given to simple solutions that can make a big difference."

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