14th July 2016
Brexit, as we now know, means Brexit. But what does it mean for open government in the UK? On the surface, nothing changes. Almost all the legislation, from Freedom of Information to Data Protection, is bound up in UK law. The Open Data agenda will also continue to move along. Even the EU initiated laws…
26th May 2016
The Open Government Network has responded to the government’s consultation on moving Land Registry operations to the private sector urging it to reconsider its proposals, expressing concerns that privatisation would have a detrimental impact on transparency, civic participation and accountability on an issue of national importance. In summary: We consider that the economy would be best served through the…
24th May 2016
Last week saw the launch of the UK’s 2016-18 Open Government National Action Plan – the third plan the government has produced as a member of the global Open Government Partnership. The plan contains an impressive list of commitments, from extending company ownership transparency to opening up elections data, and collecting granular data on government grants to enhancing…
18th May 2016
On the 12 May the government launched its third open government National Action plan for the OGP. It’s an interesting mixture, so here’s a quick overview of what’s ongoing, what’s new and what’s not there: Continuing: despite David Cameron’s own difficulties over tax, his push over international tax transparency and anti-corruption continues. Perhaps the most…
12th May 2016
Statement from the UK Open Government Network steering committee on the publication of the UK Open Government National Action Plan 2016-18 Open government is the simple but powerful idea that governments and institutions work better for citizens when they are transparent, engaging and accountable. It is not a set of lofty principles, but the building block…
13th April 2016
Something wonderful is happening. In our increasingly uncertain, fragile and repressive world, Scotland is joining with fourteen localities across the globe to light the way forward for openness, transparency and accountability. We have been selected as part of the International Subnational Government Programme. Each ‘subnational’ pioneer involved is not a full member country, but does have a…
4th April 2016
The Open Government Network has responded to the government’s consultation on ‘Enhancing transparency of beneficial ownership information of foreign companies’ calling on ministers to use the opportunity of the Prime Minister’s Anti-Corruption Summit and the UK’s 2016-18 Open Government Partnership National Action Plan to commit to: “Ensure that all companies that own property or participate in delivering…
30th March 2016
The UK Open Government Network has written to George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, proposing three commitments for inclusion in the UK’s 2016-18 Open Government Partnership National Action Plan: Make UK registered companies (that operate beyond the UK) publish their taxes, profits and other key economic data for each country where they do business. Put into…
25th March 2016
23rd March 2016
Open Government NI’s second event as part of Imagine! Belfast’s festival of politics and ideas took place in the Mac. Such a pity to see the condition of the building as it is now, covered in scaffolding and looking quite sad but it didn’t deter from our morning, hearing about and practising the concept of Participatory…