Implementing the Transparency Agenda

Download or read book Implementing the Transparency Agenda written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Committee of Public Accounts and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2012-08 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Whilst progress towards the Government's objectives for transparency is recognised there are areas where further work needs to be done. It does not help government to meet the objectives of the transparency agenda when large quantities of raw data are released without ensuring that the data are fit for purpose. Some data are very difficult to interpret, and some is not being presented on a consistent basis, for example in local government. Poor or incomplete data hinders the ability of users to exercise effective choice and undermines the ability of service deliverers and policy makers to focus on improving quality. The Government has not yet developed a full understanding of costs and benefits of making information transparent, and so decisions on what data to make available and in what form are not yet guided by value for money considerations. The Cabinet Office says the Open Data Institute will establish a fuller evidence base on the economic and public service benefits of open data. The push for release of more data has also thrown up new challenges which departments need to meet, facilitated by strong leadership from the Cabinet Office. These include questions on how to sustain interest in data after the initial launch (for example crime maps), how to ensure sufficient disclosure of information by private firms delivering government contracts, vigilance over protecting personal privacy, and how the benefits of data disclosure can be realised by those without internet access