Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information

APPSI's Annual Report covers the work of the Panel from April 2008 to March 2009, and sets out some priorities for the future.  The key highlights of the report include:

• the advice that the Panel gave to Michael Wills, Minister of State for Justice in 2008; and its recommendations to official consultations that are central to the re-use of public sector information (PSI) agenda;
• the key issues emerging from policy developments which the Panel has discussed and debated at its meetings and annual seminar;
• the work undertaken by specific members of the Panel in reviewing APPSI's complaints review function; and
• the Panel's role in spreading knowledge and awareness of the value of PSI.

APPSI-Annual_Report-2008-09.pdf (1.48 MB)

Press Release for APPSI Annual Report 2008-09

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.

Today, the Minister of State for Justice Michael Wills announced the appointment of four new members of the Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information. See press release for further details.

APPSI-Press-Release.pdf (60.62 KB)

A double-page coverage of the PSI Conference held on 14 October 2008 can be found in Whitehall and Westminster World today, (see pp. 4-5). 

In the article headlined 'Information Age' Carol Tullo explains how PSI could stimulate the development and growth of Europe's information industry if we free up access and remove the barriers to re-use.

The article headlined 'Calls for a duty to share info' provides highlights of the panel discussion chaired by Richard Susskind, and including David Rhind, Chair of APPSI, William Perrin, Deputy Director of Transformational Government at the Cabinet Office, and Nigel Shadbolt, Professor of Computer Science at Southampton University. 

The article headlined 'Minister trials data lab', covers the speech by Tom Watson, Minister for Transformational Government at the Cabinet Office, where he talked about the creation of a new facility to make best use of new data-management techniques, and referred to the some of the most innovative uses of public information.

APPSI's annual report 2007 highlights:

• the marked increase across government in the level of interest and debate in the re-use of public sector information (PSI);
• the increase of public awareness of the issues surrounding re-use and recent coverage in the press;
• APPSI’s paper to Ministers in October 2007 which outlined the need for a Government strategy on the re-use of public sector information, with proposals for the short and medium term;
• APPSI’s responses to important Government studies and consultations:

            - the Office of Fair Trading Market study on the Commercial Use of Public Information
            - the Cabinet Office’s Power of Information Review

• the stepping down of the Chair, Professor Richard Susskind OBE at the end of April 2008, and the appointment of the new Chair, Professor David Rhind CBE.

APPSI's annual report 2007 (PDF - 3.12 MB)

Press Release for APPSI annual report 2007 (PDF - 131 KB)

Today, Professor David Rhind CBE takes up the Chair of APPSI.

Professor Rhind replaces Professor Richard Susskind, OBE who was Chair of APPSI from 2003.

See press release for further details of Professor Rhind's appointment.

Professor Rhind brings the following experience and expertise to APPSI:

Professor David Rhind is a Non-Executive Director of the Bank of England and of the UK Statistical Authority; he is also Chairman of the Socio-Economic Committee of the Nuclear Decommissiong Authority and a Trustee of the Nuffield Foundation. He was Chairman of the Statistics Commission until March 2008. Until July 2007, he was Vice-Chancellor of the City University, London and before that he was Director General of Ordnance Survey Great Britain. Awarded the CBE in 2001 for services to social and geographical sciences, he is a Fellow of the Royal Society and an Honorary Fellow of the British Academy. He is the author of various books and numerous academic papers.

Today, the Minister of State for Justice, Michael Wills MP announced the appointment of Professor David Rhind, CBE as the new Chair of APPSI. 

Professor Rhind replaces Professor Richard Susskind, OBE who was Chair of APPSI from April 2003-April 2008.

See press release for further details.

The Minister of State for Justice, Michael Wills MP today announced the appointment of eight new members of the advisory panel on public sector information.

See press release for further details.

Today, APPSI published its 2006 annual report.  The 2006 report

• offers broad support for the recent merger between The National Archives and the Office of Public Sector Information
• welcomes APPSI's relocation, as an NDPD, from the Cabinet Office to the Department of Constitutional Affairs
• stresses the importance of the recent OFT Market Study on the Commercial Use of Public Information
• provides a summary of APPSI's response to Trasnformation Government
• provides a series of 16 short case studies that highlight how public sector information can be re-used.

See press release for further details.

See 2006 APPS annual report.