Government approach to future of Ordnance Survey leaves vital unfinished business, says Locus Association

The Locus Association has today commented on the Department for Communities and Local Government’s (CLG) 31 March 2010 Response to the Consultation on Ordnance Survey, which announced that some fundamental Ordnance Survey (OS) datasets would be made available to the public for free from 1 April 2010.

Locus welcomes the creation of OS OpenData, and in particular the release of boundary, gazeteer, and postcode data as part of the free package. It agrees that the release of this data should improve citizen empowerment and enable innovation in the private sector.

Beyond the creation of OS OpenData, however, the Government Response to the Consultation leaves many key issues, many of which were identified in other government reports, unaddressed:

• Public Task: while the Consultation asked for views on what OS’s Public Task should be, the Response says this work will now wait until the National Archives produces a consultation paper on a general definition of the public task for public data later this year. Locus believes the definition of OS’s Public Task should have properly preceded the changes Government has announced, and would urge government to prioritise this work.
• Regulation: Question 4 of the Consultation asked for participants’ views on regulation and good governance. The Response cites these views but makes no specific proposals. Given that OS will continue to operate as a commercial entity, while at the same time acting as the official GI Advisor to Government (with new responsibility for the technical delivery of the strategically important INSPIRE datasets), Locus believes the issues of fair pricing to intermediaries, accounting separation by product and activity, avoidance of cross-subsidy, and independent and effective regulation are crucial; Locus members look forward to hearing how Government intends to put an appropriate regulatory structure for OS in place in the very near future.
• Central procurement: Locus members are concerned that Government proposes a single central procurement of OS data for Government. They would like to understand how damage to the interests of private sector companies wishing to bid in this area (or already supplying products and services to Government) can be avoided. Locus notes that Government intends to set up a committee to assess what GI might be centrally procured by Government from OS, and would welcome the opportunity to participate in this process.
• Derived data: the Consultation recognised that the OS policy of applying “derived data” restrictions was one of the main barriers to wider usage and access to public data.  The Government Response says only that “Ordnance Survey will also be proposing changes to the derived data policy for the commercial sector”.  Locus believes derived data restrictions act as a barrier to innovation and market growth, and looks forward to continuing to work with Government and OS to see these restrictions removed in the shortest possible timeframe.

Audrey Mandela, Locus Chairman, comments: “While we welcome the release of some Ordnance Survey datasets as a positive first step, the Government announcement does not yet provide a long-term, effective framework for a fair and level playing field for the market for geographical information in Great Britain. Locus looks forward to continuing to work with Government and Ordnance Survey over the coming months to help to identify solutions for the issues that thusfar have not been addressed.”

-ENDS-

Notes for Editors:

1.    Locus was established in Autumn 2005 and formally launched on 26th January 2006. The Association’s President is a former Director General of the OFT and Oftel, Sir Bryan Carsberg.

2.    The Association exists to raise awareness of, and promote the development of, a healthy and competitive private sector in relation to PSI. Locus acts as a forum for exchange of information, keeps its members up to date with latest policy developments, and provides advice and guidance. Our members recognise the potential of PSI, but also the benefit of uniting to address some of the challenges and pooling resources to meet them. It is worth noting that the particular nature of the PSI market structure, where individual private sector organisations have limited influence, lends itself to the development of a trade body.

3.    Enquiries: Daniel Bacall - 020 7618 9100 or danielbacall@luther.co.uk