Cabinet Office consults on draft code of practice for publishing datasets

The Cabinet Office has issued a draft code of practice for public authorities to help them meet the new statutory duty to publish datasets.

The duty is being introduced through s. 102 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, which amended the Freedom of Information Act.

The amendments also require public authorities, where reasonably practicable, to publish the datasets in a re-usable format.

The draft code of practice – which will sit alongside the existing Section 45 Code of Practice for FOIA – is intended to clarify terms such as “an electronic form which is capable of re-use”, or a “re-usable format”.

The consultation says: “It aims to make public authorities aware of their new responsibilities and intends to reduce confusion and bring clarity and completeness for local authorities.”

The changes are due to come into force in April 2013. For more information on the consultation, click here.

Members of the public can already request datasets under the FOI Act, the Cabinet Office said. However, it added that the amended act brings together all provisions for the disclosure, use and re-use of data.

Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude added: “Enhancing the right to data is a key driver of our transparency agenda, so we have amended the Freedom of Information Act to ensure that public authorities publish datasets for re-use and in a re-useable format. To help them meet these new obligations, public authorities must have the best possible guidance.

"The prize – as well as ensuring we deliver better value for money in public spending – is to drive real social and economic benefits by making it as easy as possible for businesses and other organisations to exploit datasets held by public authorities."

The draft code of practice was drafted in conjunction with the Information Commissioner’s Office, the National Archives and the Ministry of Justice.

The Cabinet Office said that together with the Open Government Licence and the Non-Commercial Government Licence, a new licence – dubbed a “Charged Licence” – had been drafted for potential use by public authorities that have reason to charge for the re-use of datasets they hold or produce.

The new licence “will form a suite of ‘specified licences’ provided for in the new datasets provisions of the FOI Act,” the Cabinet Office added.