The Liberal Democrats have expressed fears of widespread Whitehall snooping on private records after figures showed hundreds of civil servants have been disciplined for misusing departmental computer systems.

Government statistics showed that the Inland Revenue was the worst offender, with over 300 staff disciplined last year for breaking rules on internet, computer and email use. 

Of these, 146 people were found guilty of "unauthorised access" and four of "unauthorised disclosure".

The data suggests the cases cover more serious issues than using Whitehall computers for sending private emails; the Department for Work and Pensions excluded "minor" cases from the reported 31 occasions on which it took action again staff members.

Lib Dem spokesman Steve Webb said it was "shocking that computer misuse is rife in so many departments".

"The idea of government employees snooping through people's private records is one that will cause alarm," he added.

"Apart from the moral and ethical problems of computer misuse, these figures show serious security and cost problems."