Commercial use of public information

7 December 2006

The OFT's market study into the commercial use of public information has found that more competition in public sector information could benefit the UK economy by around £1billion a year.

Examples of public sector information include weather observations collected by the Met Office, records held by The National Archives used by the public to trace their family history, and mapping data collated by Ordnance Survey. The underlying raw information is vital for businesses wanting to make value-added products and services such as in-car satellite navigation systems.

Public sector information holders (PSIHs) are usually the only source for much of this raw data, and although some make this available to businesses for free, others charge. A number of PSIHs also compete with businesses in turning the raw information into value-added products and services. This could enable PSIHs to restrict access to information provided solely by themselves.

The study found that raw information is not as easily available as it should be, licensing arrangements are restrictive, prices are not always linked to costs and PSIHs may be charging higher prices to competing businesses and giving them less attractive terms than their own value-added operations.

The report has also found that much of the legislation and guidance which aims to ensure access to information is provided on an equal basis, lacks clarity and is inadequately monitored. As a result the full benefits of public sector information are not being realised.

The OFT concludes that PSIHs should:

• make as much public sector information available as possible for commercial use/re-use
• ensure that businesses have access to public sector information at the earliest point that it is useful to them
• provide access to information where the PSIH is the only supplier on an equal basis to all businesses and the PSIH itself
• use proportionate cost-related pricing and to account separately for their monopoly activities and their value-added activities so that PSIH's can demonstrate that they are providing and pricing information fairly and in a non-discriminatory manner, and
• enable the regulator (Office of Public Sector Information) to monitor PSIHs better, with improved enforcement and complaints procedures.

Download the market study report (pdf 707 kb).

See press release.

Download annexes to report (all pdf files):

Annexe A: Survey of public sector information holders (297 kb)
Annexe B: Survey of businesses that use public sector information (365 kb)
Annexe C: UK case studies (332 kb)
Annexe D: Environment Agency case study (151 kb)
Annexe E: Local authorities and NHS bodies (214 kb)
Annexe F: International case studies (234 kb)
Annexe G: Economic value and detriment analysis (491 kb)
Annexe H: The legal framework (327 kb)
Annexe I: Background to cost allocation (188 kb)
Annexe J: Organisations that were consulted (68 kb)
Annexe K: Glossary (82 kb)

28 July 2005

Market study launched - see press release.

Back to: Completed market studies