Audit Scotland requires the Council to participate in The National Fraud Initiative (NFI), which is a data matching exercise. This requires the Council to provide certain data it holds on its employees, including payroll data.
Data matching involves comparing electronic records held by one body against other records held by the same or another body. This is usually personal information. Computerised data matching allows potentially fraudulent claims and payments to be identified. Where a match is found it indicates that there may be 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 exercise can also help bodies to ensure that their records are up to date.
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 under the Data Protection Act 2018.
Further information about NFI including the instructions from Audit Scotland and a copy of The Code of Data Matching Practice are available on the NFI page of the Council website.
More details on how we use employees’ data is contained within the Privacy Notice – Employees also on the Council website.
Thank you
Ann Davie
Depute Chief Executive - Education, People & Business
Thursday 5 November 2020