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Office of Public Sector Information

Unlocking the potential of public sector information

Operating from within the National Archives, the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) is at the heart of information policy, setting standards, delivering access and encouraging the re-use of public sector information. OPSI provides a wide range of services to the public, information industry, government and the wider public sector relating to finding, using, sharing and trading information.

Public Sector Information Conference, 14 October, 2008

OPSI sponsored the one-day public sector information (PSI) conference on the 14 October 2008 in Central London. Michael Wills, Minister of State for the Ministry of Justice, and the Minister for Transformational Government, Tom Watson, delivered keynote speeches at the event.

See links below for coverage of the event:

• Carol Tullo, Director of OPSI explains how OPSI encourages government agencies to lead the way in building a 21st century knowledge economy through innovative information-sharing (external link)
• Tom Watson speaks at conference (external link)
• The call for a duty to share information (external link)

The United Kingdom Report on the Re-Use of Public Sector Information 2008

This time last year OPSI produced a report marking the first two years of operation of the UK regime for public sector information (PSI) and tracking progress made to date. As with the first report, OPSI’s aim was to ensure that the legislation that underpinned the various UK tools and initiatives to deliver PSI services ’is recognised, understood and put into practice’. The Report highlights the key milestones and tracks the progress made by OPSI and the UK government over the past year.

• The United Kingdom Report on the Re-Use of Public Sector Information 2008 (PDF - 1 MB)

The United Kingdom’s Response to the European Commission’s Review of the PSI Directive

The UK publishes its official response to the EC’s questionnaire on the Review of the PSI Directive. The UK Report on the Re-use of PSI 2008 has informed the UK’s response to the EC’s review.

• UK official response to the EC's questionnaire on the Review of the PSI Directive (PDF - 120 KB)

What is available on this website?

• access UK legislation (1987 - 2008) - print it out or read it online
• Feeds for new legislation - UK, Northern Ireland Scotland, Wales
• Power of Information Review - OPSI’s involvement, access to related documents, including Participation Online: Guidance for civil servants (PDF - 971 KB)
• Unlocking Service - request a public sector information dataset to be opened up for re-use
• apply to re-use Crown copyright information - Click-Use Licensing
• access the Government’s register of unpublished information - Information Asset Register
• Public sector bodies - apply to become IFTS Accredited - Information Fair Trader Scheme

Her Majesty’s Stationery Office

Her Majesty’s Stationery Office (HMSO) continues to exist and fulfill its core activities including responsibility for the publication of legislation and the management of Crown copyright operating from within OPSI. For more information on OPSI and HMSO please see the Related Pages menu.

Most Requested Acts

• Data Protection Act 1998
• Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (c. 50)
• Employment Rights Act 1996
• Mental Capacity Act 2005
• Children Act 2004