Annex E
RECOMMENDATION 19.2
Project Description
Introduce marginal cost-pricing for most basic
Government information, other than material originated by Trading
Funds.
Responsibility and Contact Details
HMSO: Carol Tullo. (carol.tullo@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk)
Timetable and Milestones
— September 2000: announce results
of review of Government Information announced by Patricia Hewitt
in DTI Press Release.
— By end-2000: publication by Treasury
of Final Report.
— February 2001: Treasury to clear
policy paper on charging for government information at ministerial
and senior policy level.
— 1 April 2001: Implementation.
Report
Patricia Hewitt, the E-Minister announced, on
6 September, plans to boost the Knowledge Economy by overhauling
the way Government information can be acquired and reused by publishers,
the Information Industry and others. This announcement followed
the Government's Review of the Knowledge Driven Economy as part
of the Spending Review 2000.
The mechanism under which most core government
information can be resused or republished will be a simplified
class licence available online. This will enable potential users
whether in a commercial or personal research capacity, to reuse
a wide class of official information with the minimum amount of
bureaucracy and delay.
Patricia Hewitt also announced that the reuse
of most information from departments and agencies would be on
a marginal cost pricing basis. The practical effort of this is
that where the material is already published, eg official publication
or on a government website, the marginal cost of reproducing this
information is effectively nil being the cost of downloading,
scanning or photocopying from the official source. Where the originating
department is involved in supply data, perhaps as part of a tailored
service, then there could be an additional charge.
The implications of online class licensing and
the move to marginal cost pricing for core government information
was explained to departments and agencies in a series of seminars
held during September, October and November 2000. There has also
been substantial policy discussions with departments and agencies
in recent months.
HM Treasury are in the process of producing
draft guidance on future charging policy to be submitted to ministers
and senior officials prior to circulation and consultation across
government.
Status
On track.
RECOMMENDATION 19.3
Project Description
Introduction of class licensing by HMSO.
Responsibility and Contact Details
HMSO: Carol Tullo. (carol.tullo@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk)
Timetable and Milestones
— September 2000: publish Class Licence
on HMSO website for comments as part of roll out of Review recommendations.
— November 2000-March 2001: scoping,
pilot and testing of software project.
— 1 April 2001: full implementation.
Report
The introduction of a class licensing system
was trailed in e-commerce@its.best.uk a report published by the
Performance and Innovation Unit of the Cabinet Office in September
1999. One of the central features of the announcement made by
Patricia Hewitt, the E-Minister, relating to the Government's
plans to boost the Knowledge Economy was the move to a class licence
or click-use-pay licence.
The principal benefit to users of the online
class licence will be to establish a mechanism for resusing a
wide range of government information which is quick and easy.
In most cases reuse will be permitted at nil charge to users.
HMSO, with input from departmental contacts
and the Information Industry, drafted a class licence which has
been circulated widely. A further draft, is being prepared in
readiness for launching the class licence on 1 April 2001.
HMSO is also working with e-business consultants
to develop the online licensing system with workshops to scope
data requirements and customer needs week commencing 15 January.
Initial scoping and IT solution to be considered by the Crown
Copyright User Group at the next meeting on 26 January.
RECOMMENDATION 19.4
Project Description
Public information available in digital form.
Responsibility and Contact Details
HMSO: Carol Tullo. (carol.tullo@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk)
Timetable and Milestones
— By end October 2000: departmental
progress reports.
— November 2000: HMSO to report on
progress to Information Age Government Champions.
— By end 2000: 75 per cent of departments
to have Information Asset Registers (IARs) in place for completion
during 2001.
Report
Interim progress report on implementation circulated
to Information Age Government Champions in November 2000. As at
the calendar year end targets were exceeded with 77 per cent of
departmental IARs searchable via the inforoute access website
with 1,000 + records available. Departmental meetings (20/12 and
15/1) are considering how to develop standards further. IAR officers
have been appointed in 53 organisations so considerable growth
is expected. Of those departments not yet represented several
are awaiting for resources to be allocated and staff to start
new positions. In some IAR coordination links to related projects
on FOI and electronic records management.
Liaison with the local authority information
age practice group will enable us to develop common ground on
pricing and licensing consistent with our modernising government
objectives.
Status
On track.
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