A duty to release PSI
The UK Whiteahall & Westminster World has published an article titled: Calls for a duty to share info following the Unlocking the Potential of Public Sector Information Conference that took place in London on the 14 October 2008. The opening paragraphs of the article state:
“Releasing and re-using some public sector information should become mandatory, according to the chair of the government’s advisory body on public information.
Speaking during a panel discussion at a Whitehall & Westminster World conference, Professor David Rhind, the chair of the Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information (APPSI), said there was a “huge amount” of useful data that could be re-used, but the release of information should be made mandatory through the revision of the EU directive on public sector information.
“How do we actually get people to release that information when sometimes they don’t know about the benefits or they don’t have the resources?” Rhind asked, in answer to a question from a conference delegate. “I suspect it would be helpful if we had, in the revision of the EC directive, some greater mandatory reform to make [information] available and greater incentives for so doing.”
He said his organisation had written to ministers explaining the need for greater compulsion for public servants to re-use information, noting that “a substantial number” of local authorities were refusing to participate “unless it is absolutely necessary”.”
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