The development of UK government policy on citizens' access to public sector information (original) (raw)

The effectiveness of parliamentary information services in the United Kingdom

2003

Research Council, which explored the effectiveness of the public information and communications policies of the UK Parliament in London and the new devolved legislatures in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The study consisted of two elements: a series of indepth interviews with service providers; and interactive, electronically assisted interviews with the general public conducted in a roadshow environment. The paper focuses primarily on the results of the first stage of the research, relating these where appropriate to what was learned about user information behavior in the second stage. Introduction and background to the research This paper describes the results of a pilot study, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which explored the effectiveness of parliamentary information and communications policies in the United Kingdom, in terms of the quality of public information services provided by the UK Parliament in London and the devolved legislatures in Scotland,

The barriers to the opening of government data in the UK: A view from the bottom

Information Polity

This paper explores some of the key barriers to Open Government Data (OGD) that responsible civil servants in the UK face as they try to comply with the UK-led OGD initiative. Empirically, we provide a quantitative analysis of the resources published on the government's central OGD portal, data.gov.uk, and a unique insight into the publishing of OGD in the UK based on 22 interviews with responsible individuals at the operational level of publishing OGD. Our findings reveal that while the barriers to open government information have been substantially reduced, the barriers to open government data persist. Even the most enthusiastic responsible individuals face considerable obstacles in publishing OGD. Further, a key barrier to OGD in the UK is its impression management strategy based on its informational rather than data orientation. Due to the UK's pioneering position in the OGD initiative, these findings are relevant to understanding and improving OGD programmes at local, national and international levels. The findings may, subsequently, lead to evidence-based strategies and policies.

Exploring the Impact of Adopting Open Data in the UK Government

2012

A new kind of activity–fuelled by the capabilities that not only modern Web technologies offer, but also as a change in social practices and expectations–has recently become the centre of much attention and discussion; it involves the curation and publication of Government data in free, open format. Open Government is set to become a major aspect of how citizens and governments communicate and share information with each other. In this paper, we examine impact of Open Data on the UK government. By exploring the social ...

Information Policymaking in the United Kingdom: The Role of the Information Professional

Journal of Information Policy, 2012

Should a state have a single overarching national information policy? Currently for the United Kingdom, Buckley Owen, Cooke, and Matthews say no, and suggest that their analysis may be relevant elsewhere. Their conclusion is based on primary and secondary research including interviews with policymakers/implementers at the highest level. In their investigation into UK government policy on citizens' access to Public Sector Information, they map responsibility for eighteen different information policy issues across nine government ...

Datafication in the Public Sector: Exploring the Borders Between Public Services and Citizens

AoIR Selected Papers of Internet Research

This panel presents on-going research from a large research project on digital infrastructures and citizen participation in the Nordic countries, with a focus on the datafication of the public sector and the construction of new borders between public services and citizens. In recent years, governments have faced increasing pressures to become datafied or “data-driven”. A more data-driven public is said to be able to develop a whole new range of services that are envisaged to result in better services, more effective government, more transparency in the public sector, more just service delivery, and the empowerment of citizens. The panel critically examines the challenges that arise when the precepts are to be converted into working services – such as: What kinds of foreseen and unforeseen transformations does the development of new services give rise to? • What kinds of resistance are the new services facing? • What new forms of expertise, enrollment of new actors, organizational re...

Open government data: critical information management perspectives

Records Management Journal

Open government data and access to public sector information is commonplace, yet little attention has focused on the essential roles and responsibilities in practice of the information and records management professionals, who enable public authorities to deliver open data to citizens. The article considers the perspectives of open government and information practitioners in England on the procedural and policy implications of open data, across local public authorities. Design/methodology/approach Using four case studies from different parts of the public sector in England (local government, higher education, National Health Service (NHS) and hospital trust), the research involved Masters level students in the data collection and analysis, alongside academics, thus enhancing the learning experience of students. Findings There was little consistency in the location of responsibility for open government data policy, the range of job roles involved, or the organizational structures, policy and guidance in place to deliver this function. While this may reflect the organizational differences and professional concerns, it makes it difficult to share best practice. Central government policy encourages public bodies to make their data available for re-use. However, local practice is very variable, and perhaps understandably responds more to local organizational strategic and resource priorities. A lack of common metadata standards for open data, different choices about which data to open, problems of data redundancy, inconsistency and data integrity and a wide variety of views on the corporate and public benefits of open data. Research limitations/implications The research is limited to England and to non-national public bodies and only draws data from a small number of case studies. Originality/value The research contributes to the debate about emerging issues around the complexities of open government data and its public benefits, contributing to the discussions around technology-enabled approaches to citizen engagement and governance. It offers new insights into the interaction between open data and public policy objectives, drawing on the experience of local public sectors in England.

Open Data, Democracy and Public Sector Reform

Governments are increasingly making their data available online in standard formats and under licenses that permit the free re-use of data. The justifications advanced for this include claims regarding the economic potential of open government data (OGD), the potential for OGD to promote transparency and accountability of government and the role of OGD in supporting the reform and reshaping of public services. This paper takes a pragmatic mixed-methods approach to exploring uses of data from the UK national open government data portal, data.gov.uk, and identifies how the emerging practices of OGD use are developing. It sets out five ‘processes’ of data use, and describes a series of embedded cases of education OGD use, and use of public-spending OGD. Drawing upon quantitative and qualitative data it presents an outline account of the motivations driving different individuals to engage with open government data, and it identifies a range of connections between open government data use of processes of civic change. It argues that a “data for developers” narrative that assumes OGD use will primarily be mediated by technology developers is misplaced, and that whilst innovation-based routes to OGD-driven public sector reform are evident, the relationship between OGD and democracy is less clear. As strategic research it highlights a number of emerging policy issues for developing OGD provision and use, and makes a contribution towards theoretical understandings of OGD use in practice.