7
Public Sector Information: the right direction
Information is the infrastructure of our society. It is the
lifeblood of any democracy. It goes right to the heart of
the relationship between government and the citizen.
The web has changed the way we think about information.
It has also changed our thinking in terms of how we
access information and the ways in which we can re-use
information. Information is a vital asset in the digital
age, in much the same way as iron and coal were regarded
as vital resources to previous generations.
Public sector information is a key resource. It has been
estimated that 25% of commercial information products
and services in Europe are based on public sector
information. If we can remove the barriers to re-use, if
we can streamline and simplify the processes, the potential prizes for the
economies of Europe are enormous.
This is not just about economic benefits, however. The PSI agenda is pivotal
to how the government interacts with the people it serves. The growth of
web based technologies has extended the boundaries significantly in terms
of providing new and exciting platforms for delivering information. This
includes the development of web channels, blogs and data mashing. The
possibilities are endless.
United Kingdom Report on the
Re-Use of Public Sector Information 2008
I am tremendously encouraged by the progress that has been achieved so
far. We are already beginning to see many new, exciting and innovative
services based on PSI. I know that there are hurdles to clear, but this
Government is committed to building on and achieving the PSI vision set
out in this Report.
Michael Wills
Minister for Information
Ministry of Justice
9 July 2008
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