APPSI
20 April 2012

• A broad approach to maximising the value of information to the nation and to society
• A representation of a Government Information
Strategy
• An information parallel to the National (physical)
Infrastructure
• A structured approach to releasing the greatest benefit from our information
• A manageable initiative to create, make readily available and publicise an entity and framework to promote availability and best practice in fostering openness and the information ecosystem

• Data, policies about its availability, standards, applications of the data, producers and users, tools, organisations involved, etc.
• Potentially, all relevant data matters are in scope
• Realistically, focussed on information and processes that government can most readily influence – and are high priorities

• Potentially a wide range of data but focussed first on PSI
• Not just central government data - devolved governments, LAs, health, etc, private sector involved in public (and infrastructure, communications) services plus independent and voluntary sectors where they too provide publicly funded or (tax-) subsidised services
• PSI is a wide definition and is sometimes blended with data from non-public sources

• Can be personal or commercial confidential
• Public confidence must be assured
• Anonymity must be assured
• There are proven good ways to release anonymised sensitive data
• There are good precedents and current action e.g. Census SARs, OIC initiative, Scottish government consultation on data linkage http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/03/3260
An important element of PSI - needs special attention

• Central government departments
• Devolved administrations
• Key public facing sectors such as local government, health and social services
• Near-government (e.g. transport, privatised utilities, those who government pays)
• Non-government sources where there is a public sector interest

• A vast array – known and unknown
• There is a need to better understand usage and applications for input to prioritisation and investment
• The pace of change in electronic methods will greatly increase the scope and value of data
The NII is a living entity

• The NII is a broader concept that embraces Open Data
• Government plans for OD are a relevant and important component of the NII

• Cabinet Office, BIS, other Departments, devolved administrations, ICO, UKSA,
NA/APPSI, DSB/ODI/PDG, LGA, NHS and many others
• There is a need to rationalise roles and responsibilities for the NII
• Lead responsibility might be vested in an existing entity, at least initially
The NII should be UK-wide with logical devolved variants

• The information economy is already worth
£billions and growing rapidly
• The UK should be best placed to make the most of this
• There is considerable waste from duplication and data misuse
• Better data availability in the widest sense will lead to better applications – quality, relevance, openness, value

• Establishing a centre of excellence
• Seeking/demonstrating benefits from information
• Stimulation of growth and openness
• Regulation and inducements
• Priorities
• Research and skills development
• Guidance to producers and users
• Efficiency
• Quality – promotion and review
• Standards, protocols, terminology and metadata
• Data intermediaries
• Charging & licensing

• Government should provide a clear and explicit strategic vision on its role in information collection, dissemination and exploitation
• Policy should facilitate better public/private sector cooperation and innovation
• White Paper should build in the NII concept
• Open Data should be recognised as a component and key stepping stone to NII
• The wider NII framework should be recognised as key to success

• The DSB should be considered as the initial leader of a NII
• Personal data needs special attention
• Enhancing human capital is central to delivering Open Data/NII success
• NII is a living thing so must anticipate new data needs, enforce standards, evaluate old data series for continuing value
• Further discussion and investigation of the
NII is now required – and APPSI is happy to be involved