Government launches consultation on open data

The government has launched a consultation on its open data and trasparency scheme, allowing businesses, the private sector and individual citizens to comment.

In a document called Making Open Data Real: A Public Consultation, Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude said:

"Our approach is about creating both a 'pull' (a right to data) and 'push' (presumption of publication). With these forces, we will begin to embed openness and transparency in how we run government.

"This consultation seeks your views on these ideas."

In the consultation, the government has asked for views on the following areas:

• How it might enhance a 'right to data', establishing stronger rights for individuals and business to obtain data from public service providers;
• How to set transparency standards;
• How public service providers might be held to account for delivering open data;
• How it might ensure collection and publication of the most useful data;
• How it might make the internal workings of government and the public sector more open;
• How far there is a role for government to stimulate enterprise and market making in the use of open data.

Organisations and individuals who wish to participate in the consultation can do so via email, via the open data web site, or by post. 

The consultation closes on 27 October 2011.