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Privacy Notice - National Fraud Initiative
Highlands & Islands Fire & Rescue Service is required by law to protect the public funds it administers. The Service may share information provided to it with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud and correct errors.
On behalf of the Accounts Commission and the Auditor General for Scotland, Audit Scotland appoints an auditor to audit the accounts of this Service. Audit Scotland also assists appointed auditors by conducting a National Fraud Initiative, which is a data matching exercise.
Data matching involves comparing computer records held by one body against other computer records held by the same or another body. This is usually personal information. Computerised data matching allows potentially fraudulent claims and payments and errors 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.
Audit Scotland currently requires the Service to participate in data matching exercises to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud and correction of errors. We have to provide particular sets of data to Audit Scotland for matching, and these are set out in Audit Scotland’s handbook, which can be found at http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/work/nfi.php
When requested, we will be provide Audit Scotland with information on staff payroll, pensions and creditors. The use of data by Audit Scotland in a data matching exercise is carried out under the powers in Part 2A of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000, and does not require the consent of the individuals concerned under the Data Protection Act 1998.
Further information about the National Fraud Initiative is available on the Audit Scotland website at http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/work/nfi.php.
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