National Fraud Initiative - 2008/09 Data Matching Exercise

The Council is required by law to protect the public funds it administers.  It may share information provided to it with other bodies responsible for auditing or adminstering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud.

The Audit Commission appoints the auditor to audit the accounts of the Council.  It is also responsible for carrying out data matching exercises.

Data matching involves comparing computer records held by one body against other computer records held by the same or another body.  This is usually personal information.  Computerised data matching allows potentially fraudulent claims and payments to be identified.  Where a match is found it indicates that there is an inconsistency which requires further investigation.  No assumption can be made as to whether there is fraud, error or other explanation until an investigation is carried out.

The Audit Commission currently requires us to participate in a data matching exercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud.  We are required to provide particular sets of data to the Audit Commission for matching for each exercise, and these are set out in the Audit Commission's handbooks, which can be found at www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi.

In October 2008 the Council is required to supply information from the following systems:

Payroll

Trade Creditor Payments

Housing Benefits

Insurance Claimants

Licensing - Taxi Drivers;

                    Taxi Operators;  

                     Personal Licenses to supply alcohol

Concessionary Travel Passes

Parking Badges for the Disabled (Blue Badges)

In October 2009 the Council will also be required to supply information from the following systems:

Council Tax

Register of Electors

The use of data by the Audit Commission in a data matching exercise is carried out with statutory authority under its powers in Part 2A of the Audit Commission Act 1998.  It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Data Matching by the Audit Commission is subject to a Code of Practice.  This may be found at

www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi/codeofdmp.asp.

For further information on the Audit Commission's legal powers and the reasons why it matches particular information, see the level three noticeon the Audit Commission website www.audit-commission..gov.uk/nfi/form3.asp  or contact Peter Yetzes, Head of NFI on 0844 798 2222 or email nfiqueries@audit-commission.gov.uk.