WIREDGOV

The Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI), part of The National Archives, has launched a new online forum to engage with anyone interested in the re-use of government information for commercial benefit.

The channel will allow re-users of public sector information to request the release of government data that may have economic value.

Power of information

OPSI is inviting businesses, academics, public sector information campaigners and others who work with government to contribute to the creation of this new web channel, and to share thoughts and opinions about the development of this new service.

This initiative is one of the recommendations from the June 2007 Power of Information report, commissioned by the Cabinet Office. 

The creation of the forum is the first step towards developing a web-based channel for the publication of public sector information.

Tom Steinberg (of MySociety) and Ed Mayo (the National Consumer Council) recommended, as part of The Power of Information Review, that OPSI create a web-based channel to gather and assess requests for publication of public sector information "to improve the Government´s responsiveness to demand for public sector information." 

Engaging with the re-user community

Carol Tullo, Director of the Office of Public Sector Information, said: "The re-use request service will help the Government to identify where publishing its data in more re-usable formats is of value. This is a really exciting opportunity to engage and empower online communities just as Government are seeking to do in other areas of public policy."

"Our approach is to engage with the re-user community from the outset of this project, which is very much in keeping with the Government´s emphasis on giving more power to people and communities. An online discussion forum, where the community can really help shape the development of a new public service, is an ideal way to engage people with this initiative."

The National Archives has now allocated funding to set the web-channel, as announced by Michael Wills, the Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice.