By. Jason Groves. The personal financial details of millions of taxpayers could be sold to private firms under Government plans that have been branded ‘borderline insane’. HM Revenue and Customs last night confirmed it was planning a change in the law to allow the release of ‘anonymised’ data to third parties – despite warnings it could lead to a catastrophic privacy breach. A consultation issued by the department says it is looking at ‘charging options’, but says the aim is to share data with researchers and companies in order to benefit the public. HM Revenue and Customs (pictured) said last night that it was planning to change the law to allow the release of 'anonymised' data to third parties - despite warnings it could lead to a catastrophic data breach. It remains unclear exactly what data HMRC could be allowed to share in the future. Officials insisted it would be impossible to identify the details of any individual taxpayer, preserving their confidentiality. But critics warned it could follow the catastrophic example of the NHS’s Care.data scheme, which has been delayed after it emerged that supposedly anonymised data included key personal details like postcodes, dates of birth and NHS numbers. Former shadow secretary David Davis  described the proposal as 'borderline insane' Former shadow home secretary David Davis. described the proposal as ‘borderline insane’ and said the Treasury had. listed ‘no credible benefits’ to support the move. The senior Tory added: ‘The officials who drew this up clearly have no idea of the risks to data in an electronic age. Our forefathers put these checks and balances in place when the information was kept in cardboard files, and data was therefore difficult to appropriate and misuse. ‘It defies logic that we would remove those restraints at a time when data can be collected by the gigabyte, processed in milliseconds and transported around the world almost instantaneously.’ Privacy campaigners also raised the alarm. Emma Carr, of Big Brother Watch, said the data could be ‘vulnerable to reidentification’. Stephen Coleclough, of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, said HMRC did not understand the ‘worrying and dangerous’ implications of the move. The Treasury last night confirmed it was pressing ahead with the plans, but insisted safeguards would be put in place to protect privacy.

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Personal financial details of millions of taxpayers could be sold to firms. HMRC said law will be changed to allow release of 'anonymised' data. Move comes despite warnings it could cause catastrophic privacy breach.

Oldham manager Lee Johnson admitted that the Ched Evans saga had been 'unique' but declined to reveal whether he thought the club should have been able to sign the convicted rapist following his side's 2-2 draw with Doncaster Rovers. The 33-year-old was asked by MailOnline if he believed the deal, which collapsed on Thursday should have gone through. However, a club press officer interrupted and the interview ended. Oldham fans hold up a banner in relation to a petition set up against the move for Ched Evans' which attracted more than 70,000 signatures. Earlier Johnson said the potential move, which Oldham said fell through after threats from sponsors to remove their backing and after threats to staff, was decided on by the club's board. 'It was a very unique potential signing and one that could only have been made at the top end of the board,' he explained. 'There were so many aspects, it divided opinion even among individual families. I have to respect that and make sure I am very careful with what I say to protect everybody.' Oldham manager Lee Johnson kept his composure during a challenging few days for the club. Johnson revealed he had tried to turn the issue, which saw the world's media descend on the League One club, into a positive. 'It's been nice to be part of a team under siege,' he said. 'Everyone has stuck together. When you're in the media as much as we have been, it's been different but we've stuck together. Oldham defender Joseph Mills was sent off for a reckless challenge on Reece Wabara of Doncaster Rovers. 'I think the players and office staff come out with credit after what they have had to deal with. They have been superb.' During the first half around 20 supporters in the main stand chanted 'There's only one Ched Evans' while a cluster of fans in the home Chaddy End held a banner with the words '70,000 where are you?' in reference to a petition set up against the move for Evans' which attracted more than 70,000 signatures. Johnson said he had seen the banner but declined to comment on its content. Goalscorer George Elokobi holds up a T-shirt with the tribute 'To The French Victims RIP' Loan striker Jabo Ibhere gave Oldham the lead in the 23rd minute with a curling effort from inside the area. The 31-year-old, due to return to Colchester after this match, was teed up by fellow frontman Jonathan Forte who seized on an error from Rovers defender Andy Butler. Giant centre-half George Elokobi headed in Joseph Mills' corner on minutes on 54 minutes to make it 2-0 for the home side. On 75 minutes Mills saw red for a two-footed tackle on Doncaster full back Reece Wabara despite referee Carl Boyeson initially missing the offence. Three minutes later Rovers striker Nathan Tyson appeared to bundle over home keeper Paul Rachubka before halving the deficit. Deep into stoppage time James Coppinger cut in from the right to level the scores and further incense an already-furious home crowd to snatch a barely deserved point for the visitors. Jabo Ibehre of Oldham Athletic, right, sees his shot at goal saved by Sam Johnstone of Doncaster Rovvers.

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Group of Oldham fans chanted chanted 'There's only one Ched Evans' 70,000 signed petition against club signing Evans but Saturday's League One game against Doncaster attracted a crowd of 4,181. Manager Lee Johnson said he was proud of his players after 2-2 draw.