BIS/APPSI meeting on Wednesday 2 May 2012 on the National Information
Infrastructure and Open Data
Attendees; Angela Latta, Deputy Director - Data Strategy Board (DSB) and Sue Cope
(BIS), APPSI Chair David Rhind, APPSI Member Hugh Neffendorf and APPSI Secretary
Paul Edwards
1. Angela opened the meeting by introducing the terms of reference of the Data
Strategy Board (DSB). Angela is responsible for the setup of the DSB and Sue
joined BIS recently to lead the Secretariat for the Geographic Information
Customer Group. Angela also mentioned that a new Head of the DSB Secretariat
would join at the end of May.
2. Angela explained that at present the DSB is very much focused around the four
Trading Funds, but said that she recognised the premise of the NII concept and
that as it becomes established she would want to see the DSB taking an
increasingly strategic view on how PSI data is taken forward.
3. The DSB will seek to maximise the value of data from the Public Data Group
(PDG) of Trading Funds for long-term economic and social benefit, including
through the release of data free of charge. It will act as the customer advising
Government on commissioning and purchasing key data and services from the
PDG.
4. Angela went on to say that the Open Data User Group (ODUG) will feed into the
DSB, which will also draw expertise from within the PDG and more widely.
ODUG will advise the Data Strategy Board (DSB) on public sector data that
should be prioritised for release as Open Data, to the benefit of the UK. This data
will be sourced primarily from the member organisations of the Public Data
Group (PDG). But she also confirmed that Open Data could be sourced by the
DSB from elsewhere in the public sector.
5. Discussions were held on the role of APPSI and how it sits within the framework
of DSB, PDG and ODUG. It was acknowledged that APPSI is in a unique and
valued position by sitting at arm’s length from government, and with its wide
range of expertise drawing from the private and academic sectors and the
varying areas of experience from within government, APPSI is able to provide a
balanced view to Ministers and a constructive critique. The inclusion of the
devolved administrations was also noted.
6. Angela asked about the nature of APPSI and the agendas of the meetings. David
and Paul explained that APPSI is very reactive to government policy but is also
pro-active. APPSI meetings discuss PSI re-use matters and horizon scan (on an
international basis) in a full and frank manner, assessing the impact of the latest
policy developments across government while trying to draw together its
expertise to produce substantive pieces of work and recommendations to
Ministers. David noted the work APPSI had done in response to the Open Data
consultation and that APPSI also has engaged more widely, for example
providing substantive proposals and comments on the EC directive consultations.
Developing and discussing the NII concept is an example of an APPSI initiative.
7. As part of these discussions David and Hugh explored with Angela how APPSI
and the DSB might be able to collaborate constructively with each other, and
share APPSI’s expertise more widely. Angela noted that there are currently two
remaining vacancies on the DSB. These positions have been left deliberately
vacant to allow the Chair some discretion on how the board should be balanced.
However Angela indicated that this might be an avenue to explore to see if there
is scope for APPSI being represented on the DSB. Angela asserted though that
this would be very much a decision for the newly appointed DSB Chair. In
response, David said that there might be advantages in someone from the DSB
attending APPSI meetings on a by-invitation basis.
8. David asked Angela about whether risk assessments were being undertaken for
the DSB in terms of analysing which data is needed and assuring continuity of
supply. Angela agreed that this type of analysis will be needed, but at this stage
the primary focus is on the risks associated with the implementation of the DSB.
9. David also asked about the forthcoming White Paper and whether BIS/DSB
would have a role. Angela confirmed that the White Paper leadership sat with the
Cabinet Office – but recommended that APPSI could provide its views on NII
directly to CO, perhaps by drafting some brief text ideas (and Angela was happy
to be cc’d in on that email).
10. David asked about the HM Treasury project on reviewing key data – Angela
expected that this had been superseded by the other developments within CO
from the proposals arising from the Open Data consultation.
11. Following the broader discussions on strategic overview of the DSB, Hugh went
through the current concept of the NII using the presentation from the last APPSI
meeting. Hugh explained that:
The NII does not just focus on the data held within the public sector, but also the
infrastructure/‘strategy’ around the data which exists to make this useful.
The data in scope goes beyond that held by central government – across the whole
public sector.
Information should be thought of as a high priority resource alongside elements of
the National (Physical) Infrastructure which has been recognised by the Treasury as
vital.
Establishing the key internal uses of information to support policy development and
monitoring, effective service delivery, and management of the functions of
government is a central plank of the NII – part of a Government Information Strategy.
The NII essentially should be viewed as a strategic approach to indentify the
underlying mechanisms and facilities need to unlock the full potential of high value
data and an active and sustainable information based economy.
Confidential/private data needs special attention but should be made available with
appropriate safeguards. Technically, its security or anonymity can be assured
through well developed existing methods.
The Open Data plans are an important and relevant step toward the broader NII.
12. There was agreement that the APPSI concept of the NII and need for a strategy
had great synergy to the purpose of the DSB. Angela felt that the work of APPSI
and its expertise should be seen as a beneficial resource for government.
13. David provided assurances that APPSI is not trying to take ownership of
establishing an information strategy but rather that APPSI is keen to engage with
government and build upon the ideas where these could have benefit and have
significant traction. Paul noted for example that as part of developing the concept
of the NII strategy, an APPSI Member was pulling together an analysis/sample of
the terminology definitions on PSI being used across government. This had
raised interest from TNA and they were very keen to see how this developed.
Once developed this work is likely to be highlighted by TNA at a future
Transparency Board meeting. David and Hugh volunteered to share this work
with Angela and the DSB as it begins to take shape in the near future.
14. Angela shared David and Hugh’s view that economic and evidence-based
strategic analysis was key to underpinning high value data for reuse and that
evidence-based research is needed to understand the true value of data. She
would be keen to explore with APPSI how this could be taken forward.
15. David highlighted the relevant example of the Population Census – as the next
high value data set to be released as Open Data. One could envisage a case
study being done on this to assess the use and value of the Open Data approach
in multiple applications in business and government; there are likely to be large
numbers of users, some of them wholly new to this area. APPSI would be happy
to work with the DSB in exploring this as an example of a part of an NII.
16. David and Hugh explained that APPSI currently produces its work on a voluntary
basis within the confines of its membership and it was understood that APPSI in
its current remit and with its current resourcing would not have the capacity to
undertake large analytic research projects. But one could see APPSI guiding or
sharing its expertise with an agreed body in taking the analytical research
forward.
Angela enquired as to the next steps and the outcomes for the NII paper. Hugh noted
that APPSI is transparent on the advice it provides and therefore would publish its next
round of views of a NII strategy on the APPSI website. It would also share and consult
with relevant parties, as was being done with BIS. David said in keeping with its role to
advise, APPSI would provide a submission to the Minister with its findings. While the NII
is an evolving concept, APPSI would be in a position to provide an update of the NII
paper after its next set of revisions following APPSI’s meeting on 15 June 2012.
Key understandings and actions to take forward from the meeting:
Assess the scope for APPSI and DSB to work collaboratively.
The concept of the NII is very relevant to the DSB in the longer term and it was
agreed that evidence-based research is needed to understand the true value of
different types of data, set priorities and explore wider requirements for success
– APPSI stands ready to offer its help.
Angela and APPSI Secretariat to liaise on links with DSB on NII developments.
Hugh to draw up a brief note on the NII to send through to CO re the NII and the
White Paper.
APPSI to share its developed NII paper with Angela and to seek to meet with
DSB once the Board is established.
APPSI to share its developing work on terminology with Angela/DSB.
Angela proposed a follow-up meeting by the end of June to keep relationships
strong, monitor progress and to ensure DSB actions are taken forward in a
timely way.