APPSI calls for more resources for OPSI!
London: 20 August 2009
The Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information (APPSI) has published a consolidated list of responses to the final version of the Power of Information (PoI) report.
The Power of Information final report contained 25 recommendations. The APPSI response has been restricted to those recommendations that come within the APPSI remit namely:
- Recommendation 7
- Recommendation 8
- Recommendation 9
- Recommendation 10
- Recommendation 14
- Recommendation 16
- Recommendation 18
- Recommendation 22
In response to the Power of Information recommendation 18 the APPSI response states:
"Since its inception in 2005 OPSI has been pivotal in facilitating access to and encouraging the exploitation of public sector information in the United Kingdom. Its central role contributes not only to the development of the knowledge economy but also to the advance of scholarship as well as to the broadening of community involvement in government. The Task Force Report recognised OPSI’s role in the vanguard of PSI exploitation as well as the expertise embedded within the organisation. Moreover, it emphasised the overall cost effectiveness of OPSI’s endeavours. To ensure the United Kingdom’s continued success in developing a vibrant information economy OPSI’s status and role should be enhanced.
It is appropriate for the Government to review what it expects OPSI to do, and the resources it provides with which to do it. Key issues that could be addressed revolve around OPSI’s power and capacity to direct and encourage activity. There are options to provide OPSI with a more powerful remit in terms of the wider dissemination of PSI. It might, for example be given statutory powers to ensure compliance with good practice. These could include applying appropriate sanctions against “underperforming” PSI providers. On the other hand, stronger regulation might give way to a more “championing” role for OPSI where a greater amount of effort would be directed towards to encouraging PSI providers by supporting and developing information dissemination activities through various media. In addition, OPSI’s role as facilitator and intermediary of successful PSI exploitation may, in the long term signal a need for it to become more independent of government.”
The Government’s response to Recommendation 18 states:
Accepted in principle – OPSI play an important role in delivering the Open Information elements of Digital Engagement. OPSI are part of the National Archives, will allocate resources across their corporate priorities.
The National Archives Strategic Plan for 2009/2010 published before the Government responded to the Power of Information report recommendation makes no reference to OPSI or the Office of Public Sector Information. The Strategic Plan makes one reference to public sector information on page 3!
“We will drive the re-use agenda to the next stage through online solutions, unlocking public sector information for re-use using a combination of demand-led approaches”
UK Government responds to PoI!
Good Practice in promoting PSI re-use: The OPSI brand
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