§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to encourage local authorities to use data matching94W techniques with respect to benefit fraud which also require access to medical records, as provided for by the Audit Commission Bill 1998.[47380]
§ Mr. RaynsfordWhilst we welcome any progress in counteracting all types of fraud, it is for the Audit Commission and local authorities to decide the best approach to adopt in any particular case, having regard to their statutory powers and to the measures available to them, including data matching techniques.