1. Towards a balanced market Shane O’Neill Alignea Consulting Limited

2. 2 © 2007 Alignea Consulting Limited www.alignea.com Outline The role of Government in information markets The Information Centre, current activities

3. The role of Government in information markets

4. 4 © 2007 Alignea Consulting Limited www.alignea.com Market context Government can interfere on principle Markets are usually better at building the added value RUPSI provides an increasingly disciplined context for Government action

5. 5 © 2007 Alignea Consulting Limited www.alignea.com Example – immature market Environment market Policy dilemma for Environment Agency: –80% pollution caused by SMEs –SMEs have neither access to nor expertise in understanding complex regulations –No economic case for private sector to develop services Response: –NetRegs service (www.netregs.gov.uk)

6. 6 © 2007 Alignea Consulting Limited www.alignea.com Example – mature market Law market Policy dilemma: –Primary law needed consolidated –Market dominated by two large players –Access to the “law” becoming restricted Response –Creation of Statute Law Database (www.statutelaw.gov.uk)

7. 7 © 2007 Alignea Consulting Limited www.alignea.com A fine balance…

8. 8 © 2007 Alignea Consulting Limited www.alignea.com Lessons derived Government does interfere in information markets – indeed is obliged to interfere on occasion Technology means that provision of information may go beyond basic provision of “unrefined” information (collected under the “public task”) Pricing becomes an issue – regulations allow for costs recovery beyond the “public task” or for different types of re-use (avoided in case of the SLD) Transparency of intention the key to creating good public-private sector “balance”

9. 9 © 2007 Alignea Consulting Limited www.alignea.com Re-use of Public Sector Information regulations – the fulcrum of “balance” 1st July 2005 (SI 1515, 2003/98/EC) Basic intention: –To stimulate the information market by creating easier access to public sector information Basic principles: –Permit re-use of basis of the purpose of re-use, not the identity of the re-user –“raw” / “unrefined” information generally to be made available at marginal cost Exclusions include: –Information not designated for re-use –Transfer of information from one public sector body in pursuit of their public task –Non public task activities

10. 10 © 2007 Alignea Consulting Limited www.alignea.com Re-use regulations Exclusive arrangements: –A public sector body may, where necessary for the provision of a service in the public interest, enter into an exclusive arrangement (“in exceptionable circumstances” & reviewable every three years) Best practice includes: –Catalogue (Information Asset Register) –Clarity of Terms & Conditions for re-use (including charging) –Fairness, transparency, consistency –IFTS accreditation RUPSI and its regulator to be given greater teeth (see Government response to CUPI Report 2006/7)

11. 11 © 2007 Alignea Consulting Limited www.alignea.com Market context Policy (outcomes focus) Business needs (eg: performance & commissioning) Commercial opportunities Data guardian

12. 12 © 2007 Alignea Consulting Limited www.alignea.com Market context Policy (outcomes focus) Business needs (eg: performance & commissioning) Commercial opportunities Data guardian Public sector needs to judge extent of “public task” Private sector needs to justify & explain

13. The Information Centre

14. 14 © 2007 Alignea Consulting Limited www.alignea.com Current Activities A view that Government should strive to allow balanced market Hence present activities: –Information Market analysis –Market needs internal analysis –RUPSI policy Data and Information access protocol (clear T&Cs) Asset Register An Information market protocol (decision making process) –Today: your feedback