The Public Audit Forum has published a consultation paper on data matching - the comparison of separate sets of personal data to identify differences that can be used as an audit tool, particularly in detecting fraud.

Chair Sir John Bourn said it was the first step towards developing guidance on the technique, which is acknowledged to have implications for individual rights to privacy.

Data Matching and the Role of Public Sector Aud itors . www.public-audit-forum.gov.uk