A new independent review has been launched 24 October by the Ministers at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and the Cabinet Office. This review was announced in the Open Data White Paper, and aims to examine the market for public sector information.

Aim is to formulate recommendations on how to widen access to open data, as well as consider new opportunities for open data.

The review will look at the following areas:

• the current use of public sector information within government, the private sector and by the general public;
• the opportunities for innovation and developing new data services with public sector information;
• the constraints on developing new services with public sector information and the role that current funding models play;
• the impact of competitiveness on existing and new businesses entering the market, as well as the way in which organisations secure access to data; and
• an audit of current and past studies, as well as taking stock of the current use and re-use of public sector information.

Stephan Shakespeare, Chair of the Data Strategy Board, has been appointed to lead the independent review.

Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office, said “We strongly believe in the power of open data as a fuel for social and economic growth. But it is vital that we explore– as this review will do – the full potential of public sector information. We will see how we can improve access to this data and create opportunities for innovation, data-driven businesses and services that will benefit everyone.”

The review will look at the data from the Public Data Group which is made up of the different Trading Funds – Ordnance Survey, the Met Office, Land Registry and Companies House. It will also consider information from across the wider public sector. The independent review’s recommendations will be considered in the context of value for money for the taxpayer and extracting value from the available data. The review is expected to report back in Spring 2013.

The draft Terms of Reference for the review can be found at http://www.bis.gov.uk/transparency/data-strategy-board