The Prime Minister
announced today that responsibility for the Land Registry, Met
Office and Ordnance Survey will pass to the Department for
Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
The Department’s Permanent Secretary, Martin Donnelly, welcomed
the move, which marks a significant step towards establishment of
a Public Data Corporation (PDC), plans for which were announced by
the Government in January this year.
Martin Donnelly said:
"It is good to welcome the Land Registry, Met Office and
Ordnance Survey to the BIS family. The talents and abilities of
their staff will be a welcome addition to the Department’s
teamwork to ensure sustainable economic growth across the U.K."
"Staff and customers should know that these
organisations will continue to deliver a high level of service
going forward."
Final decisions on membership, structure and commercial strategy
of the Public Data Corporation will be taken later this year,
following a consultation on PDC data policy, due to launch over
the summer.
In the meantime, BIS Minister Edward Davey will jointly chair
with the Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude a PDC
Transition Board which will consider membership, structure and
governance for the PDC.
Notes to editors:
Once a permanent Public Data Corporation Board is recruited it
will be led by an independent Non-Executive Chair and will take
responsibility for Public Data Corporation’s business plan and
commercial issues. Members will need to be appointed through an
open, competitive process. The Public Data Corporation Transition
Board will not replace any of the existing boards within the
organisations involved.BIS's online newsroom contains the
latest press notices, speeches, as well as video and images for
download. It also features an up to date list of BIS press office
contacts. See http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom for more information.
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Nick Evans
Phone: 020 7215 3496
nick.evans@bis.gsi.gov.uk