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Transition to the Office of Public Sector Information begins

The unit attached to the Cabinet Office called Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) is to become the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI). The formal Office and titles of HMSO continue to exist and its core activities including responsibility for the publication of legislation and the management of Crown copyright will operate as at present. The new office will have responsibility for co-ordinating information policy standards on the re-use of public sector information. This is an integral part of the UK implementation of the EU Directive on re-use of public sector information that will take effect on 1 July this year.

The Directive will encourage the information and publishing industries to develop innovative products and services based on public sector information. OPSI will be at the heart of this, setting standards and providing a practical framework to increase transparency and remove obstacles to re-use.

The annual turnover of the information industry in Europe is estimated to be €68 billion. The industry in the US is approximately five times that size, largely because there are fewer barriers to the re-use of public sector information. The Directive aims to bridge that gap by removing many of the barriers to re-use in Europe.

OPSI will oversee the implementation of the new regulations on public sector bodies. The main obligations will be transparency of the terms of re-use, including charging details, if applicable; the need to respond to applications within 20 working days in most cases; and the production of asset lists.

As well as providing a wide range of advisory services to the public, information industry, and the public sector, OPSI will have key role in the resolution of disputes. It will act as a mediator and ensure transparency by making full disclosure of the disputes to the Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information (APPSI).

The public consultation on the introduction of regulations to implement a European Directive on the re-use of public sector information closed on Friday 18th March. This builds on an earlier consultation that was opened in September 2003.

Notes to editors

1. The European Directive on the re-use of public sector information was published in the European Journal on 31 December 2003. It can be accessed on http://www.hmso.gov.uk/psi/eudpsi.htm
2. The Office of Public Sector Information will be attached to the Cabinet Office and under the ministerial control of the Minister for the Cabinet Office. Its current name is Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) and the transition to the new name to reflect the expanded role and responsibilities is now underway see www.opsi.gov.uk .
3. APPSI is an independent non-departmental public body made up of independent experts and representative members of trade bodies and information organisations. It is envisaged that APPSI will deal with some of the complex disputes itself and also act as an appeals body for cases handled by OPSI. For details about the Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information see www.appsi.gov.uk
4. The consultation which was launched on 22 December 2004 included draft regulations, a draft guide to best practice and a draft regulatory impact assessment. For further details on the consultation see http://www.hmso.gov.uk/psi/eudpsi-consultations.htm

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