Clause 3 - Code of practice about use of information powers
Social Security Fraud Bill [Lords]
10:15 am
Ms Angela Eagle (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Social Security; Wallasey, Labour)
We dealt with this matter in passing in previous Committee sittings. The bulk exchange of information with utility companies is based on addresses, not individuals. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State said, the intention is to look for evidence of abnormally low or high use of utilities' services. It is a search not on individual names but on addresses. When we have searched for them in that bulk manner, it will be up to the DSS to check names with addresses to check whether properties are being used as giro drops, or for another purpose. The Committee should know that the measure about searching for information does not imply a bulk exchange of names and addresses.