Comments on: Closing doors on open data?

By: Daz Wright

Daz Wright — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 17:48:00 +0000

I think the quote implies that Government will find it difficult to find companies to take on contracts if they are to be subject to transparency. I find this hard to believe, if companies want public sector contracts they already have to demonstrate they are compliant in a number of areas much more onerous than FOI. The reality is, if they want public money then they need to be accountable to the public.

I too have often been vexed by an FOI when I’ve been more than happy to just give the answer and have taken this up with people before. The reality seems to be that the FOI process is just easier than trying to figure out who to ask whilst always having a suspicion that you will be ignored.

I think we need to invest more in making our systems transparent and easy to navigate rather than thinking it is the public that are doing it wrong.

By: siwhitehouse

siwhitehouse — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 09:18:00 +0000

Thanks Chris
I agree that it is very unlikely to be a very small business. The definition of the size of a small-to-medium sized enterprize is pretty large though. SB is an SME, for eg, I believe.That argument aside I think that the main issue here is that it is far more important to the Tory party that they dessicate the public sector than that they retain open data responsibilities in those organisations that take on providing public services. It’ll come back and bite us, but it isn’t a consideration at the moment.

And it’s an issue where open data advocates need to start finding allies elsewhere. Because we’re a pretty fringe interest group still and the UK Open Government Data group allowed for we don’t have a lot of political clout.

I think this needs to be framed as a transparency and scrutiny issue and argued from that point of view.

By: siwhitehouse

siwhitehouse — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 09:07:00 +0000

Hi Kate
Yes, FOI has lead to a certain formalisation of a process that might have been a simple phone call. But it also gives people a right to information which hasn’t always been forthcoming by officers less amenable than yourself.

It’ll be a discussion/workshop type affair so heckling is positively encouraged and it will be lovely to see you too.

By: Chris Seymour-Smith

Chris Seymour-Smith — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 08:55:00 +0000

I agree totally with the need for transparency and scrutiny to win over decentralisation. The argument in the quote suggests that FOI would add a burden to providers oif small businesses or charities. It’s very iunlikely that it is a small busines, and charity registered organisations aren’t charities such as RSPCA, so it’s a non-argument. Bottom line: if a provider accepts the work, they should accept an FOI responsibility.

By: Kate Goodall

Kate Goodall — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 19:48:00 +0000

I have no problem at all with transparency. I do tend to groan though when I see a FoI request in my bulging inbox – I really don’t mind telling people stuff without all the formality, unless there are legal reasons why I can’t. I may well be a very polite heckler at this session Simon And it’ll be good to see you too of course

Kate