---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:37:16 +0000 From: Jack Kirby <jack_ki...@sky.com> Reply-To: ordnancem...@yahoogroups.co.uk To: ordnancem...@yahoogroups.co.uk Subject: [ordnancemaps] New business strategy for Ordnance Survey announced
A press release containing the latest developments in the great OS charging for data debate. Thursday 23 April 2009 10:47 Communities and Local Government (National) *New business strategy for Ordnance Survey announced* A series of reforms aimed at creating simpler and easier access to geographical data were announced by Housing Minister Iain Wright today. The Government has published a new strategy for the Ordnance Survey, the business responsible for the national mapping of Great Britain, which will improve ease of access to geographic data and services for both commercial and non-commercial use. The strategy will balance the need to maintain the highest quality standards with the need to stimulate innovation in the geographical information market and make data more widely available. The Ordnance Survey will continue to be self-funded and earn revenue by licensing its data, but it will make sure it is easier for customers and other businesses to access its data and services. Iain Wright said: "Good maps and location intelligence play an important role in all our lives from plotting pot holes in the road to how we act in a national emergency. "We are committed to innovation in the geographical information market, increasing competition and to making geographical data and services more widely available. "This new strategy will help the Ordnance Survey thrive in the wider geographical information market that is being transformed by advances in technology and act as a catalyst for innovative business growth and prosperity in the 21st century economy." The strategy focuses on five key areas: * Promoting innovation - with an enhanced free service to allow experimentation with digital information and a clear path from this service to greater commercialisation; * Reforming Ordnance Survey's licensing framework - so that it is much simpler to use Ordnance Survey data and services in other applications; * Reducing costs over time - to ensure that Ordnance Survey continues to offer value-for-money; * Supporting the sharing of information across the public sector - to enable better public policy and services; * Creating an innovative trading entity - to explore further commercial opportunities around Ordnance Survey data and services. The enhanced OS OpenSpace, the digital mapping service that enables innovators to experiment and develop their ideas for free, will be launched on 12 May. The government has set key milestones for delivery over the next year and the Shareholder Executive and Office of Public Sector Information, in consultation with Office Fair Trading, will be involved in regularly reviewing progress. Full details of the strategy can be found at * http://strategy.ordnancesurvey.co.uk*<http://strategy.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/>. *Notes to Editors* 1. This announcement follows the Trading Funds Assessment, a review looking at how a number of government businesses which charge for information could make information available at no or limited cost. 2. It was announced in the budget that further work on the future business plans and models for specific trading funds, as well as consideration of the effectiveness of the Trading Fund model - will now be incorporated into the Operational Efficiency Programme. 3. The review concluded that the data produced by the Ordnance Survey was more likely to be maintained at high-quality levels under a commercial, revenue-funded model rather than through direct funding from taxation. Ordnance Survey customers told the review team that the quality of the data was important to them, but they wanted Ordnance Survey to provide easier access to it so they can use it more widely in their own business or in new products for consumers. 4. Further details on the findings of the review are available from the Shareholder Executive Website *http://www.shareholderexecutive.gov.uk/*<http://www.shareholderexecutive.gov.uk/> Media Enquiries: 020 7944 3049 News Releases: *http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsroom*<http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsroom> *http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=399459&NewsAreaID=2*<http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=399459&NewsAreaID=2> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ The ordnancemaps group is independent of The Charles Close Society http://www.charlesclosesociety.org.uk and The Ordnance Surveys of Great Britain http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk, Northern Ireland http://www.osni.gov.uk/ and Ireland http://www.osi.ie/ . Members may wish to check out past emails to the group in the ordnancemaps archive at http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/ordnancemapsYahoo! 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