Code of matching data practice

We are required by law to protect the public funds we administer. It may share information provided to it with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud. For more information see the National Fraud Initiative privacy notice.

The Cabinet Office appoints the auditor to audit the accounts of this authority. It is also responsible for carrying out data matching exercises as part of the National Fraud Initiative (NFI).

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 Cabinet Office currently requires us to participate in the NFI data matching exercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud. We are required to provide particular sets of data to the Cabinet Office for matching for each exercise, and these are set out in the Cabinet Office Guidance.

The use of data by the Cabinet Office in a data matching exercise is carried out with statutory authority under its powers given to the Minister for the Cabinet Office by Part 6 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014. It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned under the Data Protection Act 2018.

Data matching by the Cabinet Office is subject to a Code Of Data Matching.

For further information on the Cabinet Office’s legal powers and the reasons why it matches particular information, see the Cabinet Office’s Privacy Notice.

Last updated 19 December 2023