Summary of the Cabinet Office data matching exercise

We are required by law to protect the public funds we administer. We may share information provided to us with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud.

Data matching exercises

The Cabinet Office is 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 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 National Fraud Initiative

We participate in the Cabinet Office national fraud initiative. This is a data matching excercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud. We are required to provide particular sets of data to the Minister for the Cabinet Office for matching for each exercise.

The use of data and our code of practice  

The use of data by the Cabinet Office in a data matching exercise is carried out with statutory authority under its powers in 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 1998.

Data matching by the Cabinet Office is subject to a code of practice. 

For further information on the Cabinet Office's legal powers and the reasons why it matches particular information please visit the Gov.uk website. 

Further information

For further information on data matching at this authority contact:

Steven Parsons,
Internal Audit Section,
c/o Wedgwood Building,
Stafford 
ST16 2DH,

Phone: 01785 276405