This authority 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 administering
public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud.
The Audit Commission appoints the auditor to
audit the accounts of this authority. It is also responsible for
carrying out data matching exercises.
Data matching
Data matching involves comparing computer
records held by one body against other computer records held by the
same or another body to see how far they match. This is usually
personal information. Computerised data matching allows potentially
fraudulent claims and payments to be identified. Where a match is
found it may indicate 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
guidance (external link).
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 Practise (external link).
For further information on the Audit
Commission’s legal powers and the reasons why it matches particular
information visit the Audit Commission's website
(external link).