CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR PUBLIC SECTOR
INFORMATION SHARING
David Rhind
Chairman, Advisory Panel on Public Sector
Information
My routemap
• Why PSI and sharing it is important
• The EU framework of rules
• UK government policy and embryonic policies
• Role of OPSI and APPSI
• The big issue – public trust
WHY PSI AND SHARING IT IS
IMPORTANT
We are living in an ‘online information society’
“Public information
does not belong to
Government, it
belongs to the public
on whose behalf
government is
conducted.”
Speech by The Prime
Minister on Liberty,
October 2007
Public Sector Information
• Largest single source of information in Europe
• Basis of 15-25% of all data used in e-commerce
trading and information products
• US information industry = 5 x EU industry
although economies same size
• Economic value of US PSI €750 billion cf. EU
€68 billion [PIRA 2000]
• Market size in EU – average of €27 billion
[MEPSIR 2005]
• UK potential value > £1 billion [OFT 2006]
We underestimate just how valuable this asset is..
• Information the lifeblood of today’s
society and today’s government
• Cap Gemini report March 2008 –
information the last unexploited
asset: £46 billion opportunity (private
sector) and £21billion (public)
• Need similar infrastructure to
management of other key assets
(e.g. HR – Human assets, Finance –
financial assets)
• Like other assets, managing this
asset poorly is highly risky – and
huge risks of under-exploiting
• Puts information at the centre of our
work, not on the edge
What is meant by re-use of information?
• Reproduction of information in a way that was
not originally intended when created
• Includes copying, adapting, developing, adding
value, broadcasting, downloading
Our flagship website SchoolGuruHertfordshire helps
parents looking for schools in Hertfordshire. It's
completely free to use.
Why is the re-use of public sector information so important?
Economic
growth of
information
industry
Citizen
awareness of
their rights
Streamlining
the right to reuse PSI
Improving
public service
delivery
Social and
economic
benefits to
the tax payer
Planning
Environmental
Geographical
emergency services
Benefits of PSI Re-use
PSI re-use is essential to
supporting the type of
cumulative innovation
required in a knowledge
economy
Meteorological
Security
London Police Crime Maps
Medical
http://www.gmjlondonfutures.com/
Geospatial One Stop
THE EU FRAMEWORK OF
RULES
The Re-use Directive
• EU Directive on the Re-use of Public Sector
Information 2003
• http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32
003L0098:EN:HTML
• Re-use of Public Sector Information
Regulations S.I. 2005 No. 1515
• http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20051515.htm
INSPIRE components
• Metadata
• Network
Services
• Data
Specifications
• Data and
Service
Sharing
• Monitoring and
Reporting
Annex I
Coordinate reference systems
Geographical grid systems
Geographical names
Administrative units
Addresses
Cadastral parcels
Transport networks
Hydrography
Protected sites
Annex II
Elevation
Land cover
Ortho-imagery
Geology
Annex III
Statistical units
Buildings
Soil
Land use
Human health and safety
Utility and governmental services
Environmental monitoring facilities
Production and industrial facilities
Agricultural and aquaculture facilities
Population distribution – demography
Area management/restriction
/regulation zones & reporting units
Natural risk zones
Atmospheric conditions
Meteorological geographical features
Oceanographic geographical features
Sea regions
Bio-geographical regions
Habitats and biotopes
Species distribution
Energy Resources
Mineral resources
UK GOVERNMENT POLICY,
EMBRYONIC POLICIES AND
STRATEGIES
Transformational Government
• UK Government is one of largest primary information producers in
the world
• Designing and delivering public services around the needs of the
citizen
• Strong e-Government agenda
• Providing access to information and delivering services online
• Technology is a transformer of the business of the government
Worked example: the Population Census
• 2011 Census will cost around £480m – huge exercise
• Data available from in in 2012/14 - not replaced until 10
years later
• Used to allocate over £140bn annually
In Scandinavia:
• much population data drawn from administrative registers
• Available at any time
• Accurate because administration e.g. social security
payments depends on it
• V low costs once data bases created & maintained
• Could this occur in UK? Needs much data sharing if not to
start from scratch. Cultural antipathy?
A knowledge and information strategy for Government
“In the 21st century, information
is the force powering our
democracy and our economy.
Both the private and the public
sector increasingly rely on
information and knowledge,
and create value through their
ability to manage these
valuable assets.”
Sir Gus O’Donnell
Cabinet Secretary and Head of the
Home Civil Service
October 2008
Power of Information Task Force report
Don’t forget to tell them about Show Us A Better Way!
Background
• Personal information is individual & precious to
each one of us – it’s vital that we treat it
properly.
• There is a long-standing and healthy debate
about the balance between the right to privacy
and the necessity to hold and share data.
• Review announced by PM on 25/10/2007
during his speech on Liberty. High profile data
losses thereafter made DSR even more
relevant.
The process
• Consultation exercise between December and
February 2008 – over 200 responses.
• Some 60 meetings covering public, private and
third sector – across UK and in Europe.
• 8 workshop discussion sessions.
• Extensive desk research.
Common issues highlighted
• Benefits of sharing (law enforcement/public protection;
provision of services; research).
• Risks of sharing; need for minimisation, proportionality
and safeguards.
• General confusion/uncertainty about the law, including
the complex interplay between different strands of the law.
• A lack of public trust in data handling.
• A lack of transparency in what is done with personal
data.
• Inadequate regulatory powers, sanctions and resources.
• Lack of clear accountability in a complex shared data
environment.
• Subject access process out-of-date in the internet era.
Recommendations (1)
• Transform personal and organisational culture: clarify
corporate governance; maximise transparency; improve
training; and consider credentials.
• Clarify and streamline legal framework: urge HMG to
lead EU debate on reform; authoritative guidance
through statutory CoP; and a new statutory fast-track
procedure where there is a strong case for removal of a
legal barrier.
• Ensure effective enforcement: implement fine provisions
quickly; provide new powers to inspect & audit; ensure
adequate resources; and revise structure.
Recommendations (2)
• Develop mechanisms for safe and secure research and
statistical analysis: develop ‘safe havens’ as
environment for population-based research; create
system for accrediting approved researchers; and call
on HMG and NHS to maximise potential benefits made
possible through safe havens.
• Safeguard and protect publicly available (online)
information: call for new enquiry into online services that
aggregate personal information; and ban the sale of the
edited electoral register.
WHAT DID BUDGET 2009 SAY?
ROLE OF OPSI AND APPSI
Roles of the Office for Public Sector Information
a licensor of Crown
and Parliamentary
copyright material
the policy lead on
the re-use of public
sector information
across the UK
At the heart of information
policy, setting standards,
a regulator
delivering
access and encouraging
the re-use of public sector
information
as Her Majesty’s
Stationery Office
(HMSO), responsible
for publishing and
overseeing
contractual
arrangements for
legislation and other
official publishing UK
wide
APPSI advises Ministers and the Director of OPSI
about…
(1)
(3)
Michael Wills MP
Minister of State for Justice
APPSI also reviews
and considers
complaints under the
Re-use of Public
Sector Regulations
2005
Carol Tullo
OPSI Director
How to encourage and
create opportunities in
the information industry
(2)
How the licensing of Crown
Copyright and public sector
information can be aligned with
current and emerging
developments
THE BIG ISSUE – PUBLIC TRUST
With information management becoming a
growing focus of media and public concern…
Types of risks – some examples
Risks to individuals
• Poor recordkeeping
practices
• Risk of disclosure of
personal information
• Information not
disclosed when
needed
Security risks
• Implications of
fraud and hacking
• Risk of losing
official intelligence
• Decisions made
without
understanding
whole context
Types of risks – some examples
Reputational risks
• Japanese
Government pension information
loss
• Data protection
breaches
• Loss of public
confidence and trust
Financial risks
• Cost of having to
put errors right
• Cost of recovering
information
• Cost of litigation
The data handling review
• Provides definition of sensitive
data that has to be protected
• Sets out a series of mandatory
requirements for protecting
personal data
• Establishes the concept that
information is an asset which
should be treated as money is
• Introduces the concept of
‘information asset owners’
• Imposes strict audit and
reporting regime
What we all need to do
• Make knowledge & information as much a part of our culture and
procedures as HR, Finance or H&S. We need to ensure that every new
joiner understands what they need to do, and what they need to keep,
share or protect. Information is a core asset and we need to treat it as
such
• Understand the risks that apply to our organisation, and manage
them as mainstream, business risks – just as we would all other
business risks, and make this part of our process
• Developing the right capability to support their management –
making sure your organisation has the right skills set, knowledge and
expertise to support this
• Build the management of knowledge & information into governance
and accountability structures. Make managing them ‘part of the day
job’ and something which is visible to the Board and senior managers
• Exploit opportunities to collaborate and work with other
organisations, sharing and learning from each others’ successes and
failures
Overall conclusions
• Importance of re-using existing public sector information
now totally accepted
• UK (and other) government(s) not short of policies,
strategies, initiatives to foster re-use
• Breaking down cultural and financial barriers to access
and re-use still a major problem
• New technologies make some alternatives technically
easy e.g. Web 2.0 underpins voluntary creation of
information by citizens
• Data sharing has huge advantages for citizens –
reduced costs, less bureaucracy, better topicality, etc –
BUT public trust is big issue
Some key sources of information
•
•
•
•
http://www.opsi.gov.uk
http://www.appsi.gov.uk
http://poit.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/poit/
http://www.justice.gov.uk/reviews/docs/datasharing-review-report.pdf
• http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/65948/dh
r080625.pdf
Yes we
can!
(exploit
PSI)