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Data matching

Perth and Kinross Council is legally required 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.

What is Data Matching?

Data matching involves comparing computer records (usually personal information) held by one body against other computer records,  held by a different part of the same body, or those held by another organisation to see how far they match.

Computerised data matching allows potentially fraudulent claims and payments to be identified, but the inclusion of personal data within a data matching exercise does not mean that any specific individual is under suspicion. Where a match is found it may indicate that there is an inconsistency that requires further investigation; until this investigation is carried out, no assumption can be made as to whether there is fraud, error or another explanation.

Data matching exercises can also help bodies ensure that their records are up to date.

Audit Scotland

Audit Scotland appoints the auditor of Perth and Kinross Council's accounts. It is also responsible for carrying out data matching exercises.

Audit Scotland currently requires us to participate in a data matching exercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud. The Council is required to provide particular sets of data to Audit Scotland for matching for each exercise. The datasets which the Council has to provide are laid out in Audit Scotland's National Fraud Initiative.

The use of data by Audit Scotland in a data matching exercise is carried out with statutory authority, normally under its powers in Part 2A of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000. It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned .

Data matching by Audit Scotland is subject to a Code of Practice. You can also find this on the National Fraud Initiative web page, along with further information on Audit Scotland's legal powers, and the reasons it matches particular information.

If you have any questions in relation to data matching you can contact Audit Scotland , or the Council's Data Protection Officer at the address to the left of this page.

Last modified on 22 May 2024

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