friday lunchtime lecture: the open government partnership: how far have we come?
DESCRIPTION
2013 was a big year for open data. G8 leaders signed the Open Data Charter and the UK Government made a series 21 commitments in a National Action Plan for open government. It pledged to release more local open data, manage digital records better and develop a new anti-corruption strategy, among other initiatives to help it transition to ‘open by default’.How far have they been met, two years on? Politics expert Ben Worthy will reflect on findings from his new independent report on the action plan, followed by comments from Involve and the Cabinet Office.Ben Worthy is a lecturer in politics at Birkbeck College, University of London where he teaches Contemporary British Politics and Digital Politics. He has written extensively on issues around transparency, freedom of information and open data, looking particularly at the impact of the UK Government’s Transparency Agenda.TRANSCRIPT
The Open Government Partnership: How Far Have We Come?
Ben WorthyOGP IRM
Open Government Partnership
UK Second National Action Plan 2013-2015• Examined commitments
made in second NAP• Created in co-operation with
civil society groups• UK government updates and
self-assessment• Series of interviews and
desk research• Looking at implementation
not impact or effect
What Went Well: Eye Catching Policy?
• Beneficial Ownership-public register of who owns what company or exercises a controlling interest (PSC)• Extractives Transparency [EITI]-opening up of details
and payments on oil and gas e.g. payments and licenses•Aid Transparency-data on who is giving what including
a development tracker•Anti-Corruption Strategy – cross government anti-
corruption policy
What Went Well: Local Data
What Went Well: Backroom Work
•Building Blocks e.g. TNA working turning UK legislation into open data, work on digital records and DRI• Infrastructure e.g. the National Information
Infrastructure-creating an iterative framework for publishing datasets.
What Went Not so Well: opening up policy making•Very strong interest in
this area• Fewer cases than
wanted-meant to do 5 but only 3 with one more added•Blocked by resources and
‘politics’
What Went Not so Well: Accountability and Participation• Less progress on general OGP
aim of participation or accountability• Attempts to encourage were
interesting but difficult• Need to link data to tools • Age of open data and
technology requires greater engagement
What’s Missing?
• Lobbying and Surveillance•UK
Open Government network forum generated a number of new ideas e.g. private companies working for public bodies•What about Freedom of
Information?
Who’s Missing?
Need to broaden out to include • Scotland•Wales•Northern Ireland• Local government
What’s It All About?
• Need for evidence on impact• How do they fit together? •What is the ‘visions’ of state
and society, politics and government underneath it e.g. for 20 years down the line? •Who benefits or loses?
Thank You
OGP Links• See the full report here• Open Government Civil Society
Network http://www.opengovernment.org.uk/ • OGP UK http://
www.opengovpartnership.org/country/united-kingdom • Email [email protected]