London 17 July 2008

As the UK Parliament went into summer recess Members of Parliament gave notice on a series of questions to Ministers that are related to public sector information. The questions have been scheduled to be answered when the UK Parliament returns after the summer recess in the week beginning the 6 October 2008.

The set of questions in effect forms a survey of what types pf public sector information has been sold by each Ministerial department and their associated agencies in the past year. The questions if answered once collated will provide a form of asset list as well as the total amount of PSI sold within the UK public sector as the questions also cover the devolved regions of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales and cover central government bodies, local government bodies, the health sector amongst others.

The answers to the questions will complement the UK Governments Assessment of Trading Funds that is underway and due to report to Ministers in the autumn. The assessment is being led by the Shareholders Executive and as such the questions asked probably reflect work that is underway within that Assessment where related to Trading Funds.

The questions have a secondary benefit in that they raise the profile of public sector re-use within each Government Ministry (Department) as well as within the UK Parliament – an important aspect especially as the European Commission is currently reviewing the impact of the PSI Re-use Directive 2003/98/EC and is schedule to publish a communication in the autumn of 2008.

The information provided will also complement that provided within the report titled – The UK report on the re-use of PSI in 2008: Unlocking PSI Potential published by the UK Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI)

It will be interesting to see once October arrives as to whether the UK Government has been politically wise (if they wish to avoid sending out the wrong signal) when answering the questions and avoids deflecting the questions on the basis that the information is not held (or collated), informtion is not sold but licenced or the cost of collecting it is too high!

Parliamentary material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO on behalf of Parliament

Source: Questions for Oral or Written Answer beginning on Monday 6 October 2008 (the 'Questions Book')

James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what types of data have been sold by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations in the last 12 months. (222056)

James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list each type of data that has been sold by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations in the last 12 months. (222063)

James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what types of data have been sold by his Department under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations in the last 12 months. (222005)

James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what types of data have been sold by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations in the last 12 months. (221993)

James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what types of data have been sold by (a) her Department and (b) its agencies under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations in the last 12 months. (221984)

James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what types of data have been sold by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations in the last 12 months. (221960)

James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what type of data have been sold by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations in the last 12 months. (221947)

James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what types of data have been sold by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations in the last 12 months. (221941)

James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what types of data have been sold by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations in the last 12 months. (222106)

James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what types of data have been sold by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations in the last 12 months. (222091)

James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what types of data have been sold by (a) her Department and (b) its agencies under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations in the last 12 months. (222043)

James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what types of data have been sold by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations in the last 12 months. (222101)

James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what types of data have been sold by his Department under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations in the last 12 months. (222113)

James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what types of data have been sold by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations in the last 12 months. (221969)

James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what types of data have been sold by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations in the last 12 months. (222148)

James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what types of data have been sold by his Department under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations in the last 12 months. (222165)

James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what types of data have been sold by (a) her Department and (b) its agencies under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations in the last 12 months. (222120)

James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what types of data have been sold by his Department under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations in the last 12 months. (222161)

James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what types of data have been sold by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations in the last 12 months. (222138)

Sarah Teather (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what assessment he has made of the effect of Ordnance Survey's licensing terms on trends in business take-up of its services; and if he will make a statement. (222736)

Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 24th June 2008, Official Report, columns 258-9W, on the Valuation Office: databases, whether the information being provided to the Valuation Office Agency by Ordnance Survey is in respect of (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) both. (223077)

Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what use Ordnance Survey makes of ACORN data from CACI Ltd. (222573)

Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 21st April 2008, Official Report, column 1689W, on Valuation Office: Geographical Information System, if she will list the mapping products and datasets that the Valuation Office Agency will use from Ordnance Survey for the Geographical Information System. (222643)