Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act 1997

4 Unauthorised disclosure by officials

(1) In Schedule 4 to the [1992 c. 5.] Social Security Administration Act 1992 (persons who may commit an offence under section 123 of that Act), after the entries headed “Other public departments and offices” insert—

“Local authorities etc.

• A member, officer or employee of an authority administering housing benefit or council tax benefit.

• A person authorised to exercise any function of such an authority relating to such a benefit or any employee of such a person.

• A person authorised under section 139A(1) of this Act to consider and report to the Secretary of State on the administration of housing benefit or council tax benefit.”

(2) In section 123 of that Act (offence of unauthorised disclosure by certain persons of information relating to particular persons), in subsection (8) (persons employed in audit of expenditure)—

(a) after paragraph (h) insert—

“(ha) a member of the Local Commission for England;

(hb) a member of the Local Commission for Wales;

(hc) the Commissioner for Local Administration in Scotland;”,

(b) after paragraph (j) insert—

“(ja) a member of the Audit Commission for Local Authorities and the National Health Service in England and Wales and any auditor appointed by that Commission;

(jb) a member of the Accounts Commission for Scotland and any auditor within the meaning of Part VII of the [1973 c. 65.] Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973;

(jc) a Northern Ireland local government auditor; and”, and

(c) in paragraph (k), for “referred to in paragraphs (c) to (h) above” substitute “or Commissions referred to in paragraphs (c) to (hc), (ja) and (jb) above and any person assisting an auditor referred to in paragraph (ja), (jb) or (jc) above”.