We are required by law to protect the public funds we administer. This means we can share information provided to us with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds to prevent and detect fraud. The Cabinet Office is responsible for carrying out data matching exercises.

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.

We are required to provide particular sets of data to the Minister for the Cabinet Office for data matching for each exercise outlined in the Cabinet Office's guidance.

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

Further information on the Cabinet Office’s legal powers and the reasons why it matches particular information can be found at National Fraud Initiative privacy notice. 

For further information on data matching at this authority contact Internal.Audit@bexley.gov.uk