Fraud by Ratepayers and Housing Benefit Claimants being rooted outFraud by Ratepayers and Housing Benefit Claimants being rooted out Land & Property Services will participate in a pilot exercise in the first data matching exercise in Northern Ireland under the banner of the National Fraud Initiative 2008/09. Data matching involves comparing data within and between bodies (such as payroll or benefits records) to identify anomalies that may indicate fraud. Land & Property Services involvement in the National Fraud Initiative comes at the request of the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) who has been given new statutory powers to conduct such data matching exercises for the purpose of assisting in the prevention and detection of fraud. Chief Executive of Land & Property Services, John Wilkinson comments on the scheme, “Land & Property Services is very enthusiastic about participating in the implementation of the National Fraud Initiative in Northern Ireland. All ratepayers and benefit claimants have a responsibility to provide timely and accurate information to government. Vital public services are funded by the collection of rates and any initiative that ensures everyone is contributing in an appropriate and fair way is of benefit to us all.” Land & Property Services will resolutely pursue any individual or organisation found to be acting fraudulently using the full extent of legislative powers available. More information on the National Fraud Initiative can be found at www.lpsni.gov.uk ends Notes to Editor Land & Property Services Land & Property Services (LPS) is an executive Agency within the Department of Finance and Personnel. The background to its creation is the Review of Public Administration published in 2006. The review concluded that an integrated set of land and property related services for citizens and government would aid the regeneration and economic development of Northern Ireland. LPS is the incarnation of this. The Agency was established initially from the merger of the Rate Collection Agency and the Valuation and Lands Agency on 1st April 2007. This was followed by the addition of Land Registers Northern Ireland and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland on 1 April 2008. LPS is responsible for all mapping, land registration, valuation and rating revenue and benefits in Northern Ireland. Further information on LPS may be obtained from its website on www.lpsni.gov.uk or by contacting LPS Marketing and Communications Team on 028 90388 415. National Fraud Initiative 2008/09 In Northern Ireland the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland (head of the Northern Ireland Audit Office) has been given new statutory powers to conduct data matching exercises for the purpose of assisting in the prevention and detection of fraud. The first data matching exercise under the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (C&AG) new powers will be undertaken in 2008/09. The Audit Commission for Local Authorities and the National Health Service in England (the Audit Commission), will carry out key aspects of the exercise on behalf of the C&AG, including the collection and processing of data. The data obtained for the 2008/09 exercise will be matched on a cross jurisdictional basis in the UK and therefore will be included in a much wider NFI exercise. Further Information Patricia Blair NFI Coordinator 028 90 251004 nficoordinator@niauditoffice.gov.uk |
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