Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information

Capita's 6th National Information Sharing Across the Public Sector Conference has been organised to provide high level strategic guidance and practical insight into challenges and solutions of effective data sharing.

The Chair of APPSI, Professor David Rhind CBE, gave the keynote address on Creating Opportunities for Public Sector Information Sharing

• Putting data at the core of public sector organisations
• The benefits of re-use of public sector information
• Creating a culture of good data management

Programme.pdf (419.51 KB)

Data Sharing presentation (8 MB)

HM Treasury published the Operational Efficiency Programme on 21 April.  This contains an announcement relating to the assessment of Trading Funds undertaken by the Shareholder Executive (part of BERR).  As you will see from Box 3.A on page 41, OPSI will provide enhanced oversight and governance to ensure the application of key principles of good practice across the Trading Funds that create significant amounts of information.  Moreover, a new business strategy for Ordnance Survey has been developed (see Box 3.H) which also will ensure easier and simpler access to high-quality information.

Ordnance Survey’s new business strategy

Ordnance Survey’s Minister, Iain Wright has announced its new business strategy today.

The strategy aims to improve ease of access to geographic data and services for both commercial and non-commercial use, whilst also striving to maintain a balance with the need to stimulate innovation in the geographic information market and make data more widely available.  This means that Ordnance Survey will continue to be self-funded and earn revenue by licensing its data, but it will make sure it is easier for customers and other businesses to access its data and services.

The strategy focuses on five key areas:

The enhanced OS OpenSpace service, the digital mapping portal that enables innovators to experiment and develop their ideas for free, will be launched on the 12 May.

The Government has set key milestones for delivery over the next year and the Shareholder Executive and OPSI, in consultation with the Office of Fair Trading, will be regularly reviewing progress. Note: The new strategy will be developed further and implemented over the coming 12 months but the five key areas above are being opened up for comment from Ordnance Survey’s customers and other stakeholders. 

The following government departments and organisations: DCLG, Shareholder Executive, Ordnance Survey, OFT and OPSI have all issued press notices announcing OS’s new business strategy.

These press notices follow up from HM Treasury's OEP announcement earlier in the week.