OPSI Report into Re-use of Information Complaint
Media Release CA/MR/2011/12: 12/10/2011
The Coal Authority welcomes the publication of the report by the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) on its investigation of a complaint made by PinPoint Information Limited (PPIL) against the Authority under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations (the PSI Regulations) and the Information Fair Trader Scheme (IFTS).
The Authority particularly welcomes the confirmation by OPSI that the production of CON29M mining reports in England and Wales (and equivalent reports in Scotland) is part of the Authority’s public task; consequently the information in the Authority’s databases to create equivalent products to the CON29M would not constitute appropriate re-use of the information under the PSI Regulations.
In line with OPSI’s recommendations, the Authority will continue to engage with PPIL and the wider re-use community to enable the development of innovative applications of the Authority’s public data.
The Authority has high aspirations with regard to information accessibility and dissemination, but due to the nature of the information and economic reality, the Authority may not be able to go as far or as fast as OPSI and potential users would like.
The Authority intends to re-evaluate its information strategy following the outcome of the Government’s current consultations on Public Data and a Public Data Corporation.
END.
Note for Editors
The Coal Authority is located at Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, was established under the Coal Industry Act 1994 and is sponsored by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. We work to protect the public and the environment in coal mining areas and manage the effects of past coal mining by: working to protect old coal mines from affecting people and property, and dealing with any emergencies; helping to clean up water from coal mines; and providing information about coal mining. We also licence companies to mine coal in Britain.
Media contact:
John Delaney
Corporate Manager
200 Lichfield Lane, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG18 4RG
Tel: 01623 637000
Fax: 01623 622072