1.

Glossary of key terms

These are the definitions of key terms used throughout the consultation document but we are asking, through this consultation, a question about whether we have got them right. 

Term

Description

Dataset

Factual data, structured or unstructured. 

In relation to public services, this data will typically have been collected as a by-product of delivery. This includes, for example, key public datasets about public services; user satisfaction data; and the performance of providers. 

For non-government bodies providing public services, information about aspects unrelated to the delivery of their public service function are not in scope.

Information

Interpretation and analysis of data that when presented in context represents added value, message or meaning.

Open Data

Data which can be freely used, re-used and redistributed by anyone.[1]

In relation to public services, Open Data means data available under the terms of the Open Government Licence.[2] 

The presumption is that data about public services will be Open Data.  It may be that some data held in relation to public services is made ‘available’, but is charged for.[3]

Public Services

Public services are either provided by public bodies, or providers who have been funded, commissioned or established by statute to provide a service.[4]  In this document, we will refer to both these groups as ‘public bodies’ and ‘public service providers’ or ‘providers’ for brevity.  

 

Questions for consultation 

The Government would welcome views on the following:

  1. Do the definitions of the key terms go far enough or too far?
  2. Where a decision is being taken about whether to make a dataset open, what tests should be applied?
  3. If the costs to publish or release data are not judged to represent value for money, to what extent should the requestor be required to pay for public services data, and under what circumstances?
  4. How do we get the right balance in relation to the range of organisations (providers of public services) our policy proposals apply to?  What threshold would be appropriate to determine the range of public services in scope and what key criteria should inform this? 
  5. What would be appropriate mechanisms to encourage or ensure publication of data by public service providers?

Please click here to answer the questions.

Footnotes

[1] http://www.opendefinition.org/government/

[2]  The Open Government Licence is a simple set of terms and conditions to enable the free re-use of government and public sector information, see http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/.  For organisations which are not public bodies, there is the Creative Commons By Attribution or other recognised Open Licence.

[3] These exceptions are discussed below in the section on ‘Cost’.

[4]  Also see the Open Public Services White Paper: http://files.openpublicservices.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/OpenPublicServices-WhitePaper.pdf.  

Comments (2)

key terms

Thu, 04/08/2011 - 19:59 — mt (not verified)

1. Do the definitions of the key terms go far enough or too far?

These definitions seem adequate. Whether data will continue to  collected "as a by-product of delivery" is less certain.  If open data has a real benefit to society then collecting data for that purpose, and then using some of it for the purpose of delivering, measuring, improving, or discontinuing services is a likely future. 

2. Where a decision is being taken about whether to make a dataset open, what tests should be applied?

Perhaps that the body holding the data can show harm might result from making it open.  I expect this would be quite rare.  

3. If the costs to publish or release data are not judged to represent value for money, to what extent should the requestor be required to pay for public services data, and under what circumstances?

The release of data is unlikely to ever be costly when the data is released in full and unaltered.  So the question is more honestly put as - Where for some as yet unspecified reason data must be redacted or otherwise altered before release, who should pay these costs?  I suggest  that the costs be borne by the holding organisation, unless the changes are made at the request of some other organisation - in which case they pay.  Simple principle here (I'm an IT guy)  if you ask me to do work - you pay!   

4. How do we get the right balance in relation to the range of organisations (providers of public services) our policy proposals apply to?  What threshold would be appropriate to determine the range of public services in scope and what key criteria should inform this? 

Perhaps the best way to establish "balance" is to measure it.  If organisations are required to report on the costs of compliance, benefits or disbenefits resulting, and this is made open, then balance will be achieved.  I hope.

5. What would be appropriate mechanisms to encourage or ensure publication of data by public service providers?

Money.  No, honestly, money.  Give them funds to enable them to provide data, then measure and keep funding the best.  For the others some sort of remedial training might help.  The ones that "get it" will make money anyway.

 

indeed

Thu, 04/08/2011 - 12:17 — Dan Snow (not verified)

We deserve to know how our society is run.