§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Social security what data-matching exercises the Benefits Agency has carried out on its own employees; and how many employees have subsequently been discovered to be involved in(a) breaches of confidence and (b) illegal benefit claims. [19488]
§ Mr. HealdIn 1994, a limited clerical exercise involving three offices was undertaken to check staff national insurance numbers against records held in the departmental central index. The aim was to protect the interests of staff by checking that their national insurance number was not being used by other persons for fraudulent purposes. The exercise complied fully with16W Data Protection Act 1984 requirements, including appropriate authorisation, registration and the handling of data. The appropriate trade union side was kept informed.
No cases of benefit fraud nor any breaches of confidence were found.