UKHO decision: no selloff; and a year on from CUPI, are we any further ahead?
Today’s Guardian notes that we’re a year on from the OFT report on the Commercial Use of Public Information, but that government still hasn’t come up with a coherent response that covers what’s suggested.
So far, the main government response has been to ask for more information. It commissioned the Power of Information investigation, which recommended that the government do more to encourage the re-use of public sector information. It, in turn, called for studies on the effect that changes in pricing would have on trading funds such as the Ordnance Survey and the UK Hydrographic Office. In response, the government commissioned a study of the trading fund model. That is due to be submitted by the end of the year. This month, the MoD is due to decide on whether the UK Hydrographic Office will continue as a trading fund or become a private company.
The UKHO decision has been reached: it’s not being sold off. Instead, it will remain a trading fund.
That has to be good news for the possibility of a free data model (or even a reduced cost of data, or free unrefined data model).
The MOD press release:
The UK Hydrographic Office will remain a Trading Fund of the Ministry of Defence, after a review of the business and its future.
Defence Minister, Derek Twigg announced to Parliament today that the business will remain as an arm of the MoD and will continue to be located in Taunton, but that major changes needed to be made.
The review included a detailed restructuring programme to ensure the business and its personnel are best equipped to meet the needs of the 21st century mariner in an increasingly competitive environment.
In an overhaul of the business by the Ministry of Defence and the UKHO, proposals have been developed for a reduction of between 250 and 300 permanent posts over a period of up to 5 years.
That’s quite a cut, even if it leaves 800 staff still there. Prepare for heavy seas in the UKHO’s constituency when the next election or byelection comes.
- The following posts may be related...(the database guesses):
- Yes, why minister? (9 January 2008; score: 52%)
- Parliamentary question reveals Cambridge University doing trading fund study (16 October 2007; score: 38.85%)
- UK Hydrographic Office decision: executive summary (here) (1 January 2008; score: 35.65%)
- UKHo selling off its SeaZone subsidiary: but why? (5 August 2009; score: 35.4%)
- Catching up: government responds to OFT and Power of Information reports (5 July 2007; score: 29.59%)
December 10th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Extraordinarily, the review document itself doesn’t appear to be available. (UKHO said it didn’t have it and MoD press office hasn’t called back.)
If it isn’t forthcoming in the next couple of days I’ll put in an FoI request. If anyone has a copy and thinks the MoD has better things to do than deal with FoI requests, would they please email it to michaelcross@fastmail.fm. Confidences respected. Many thanks.