Distributed to
All registered social landlords (excluding co-ownership societies, almshouse charities and Abbeyfield societies) and local authorities.

1 Introduction

1.1 In common with other public agencies handling public funds, the Corporation is required to review its systems for detecting fraud. In this context, the Corporation has registered its use of data with the Data Protection Office and agreed to amend forms to ensure applicants are aware of how the Corporation could use the personal data provided.

2 Forms

2.1 The Corporation publishes a number of forms for completion by registered social landlords, which involves recording personal data of people wishing to participate in the Corporation's housing for sale initiatives. The data collected may be used by the Corporation for the purposes of statistical surveys or assist in detecting fraud. In view of this, it has been agreed with the Data Protection Office that applicants should be made aware that personal information may be passed to the Corporation and shared with other agencies handling public funds.

2.2 To ensure all applicants are aware of the position, RSLs are requested to incorporate the statement in paragraph 3 below on all application forms where the information is collected on behalf of the Corporation and used in RSLs applications for grant e.g. the information collected from an applicant for Do it yourself Shared Ownership will first be collected on the RSL's own application form and later transferred to the Corporation via an application for grant. Where reprinting of forms is impractical at this stage, RSLs should attach the wording to forms.

2.3 Forms published by the Corporation will be amended for 1 April 1997, in the meantime RSLs are asked to ensure the wording in paragraph 3 below is attached to any Corporation form sent directly to an applicant e.g. form TIS1 (Tenants Incentive Scheme).

3 Statement for inclusion on application forms

3.1 'We must protect the public funds we handle and so we may use the information you have provided on this form to prevent and detect fraud. We may also share this information for the same purposes, with other organisations which handle public funds.

3.2 The information may also be used for statistical surveys, which means we may pass this information, in confidence, to the Department of Environment and agencies working on our behalf.

4 Enquiries

4.1 Any queries concerning this circular should be directed to the appropriate regional office of the Housing Corporation.