19th July 2015
The Open Government Partnership is inviting proposals for sessions at the upcoming Global Summit in Mexico in October: The 2015 Open Government Partnership Global Summit will be held in Mexico City on October 27, 28 and 29. Around 1,500 participants from government, civil society organizations, multilateral organizations, media, and the private sector are expected to…
17th July 2015
The Campaign for Freedom of Information has released this statement on today’s announcement of a Commission to review the Freedom of Information Act: A major attack on the public’s right to information is likely following the government’s announcement today of a new Commission to review the Freedom of Information Act, according to the Campaign for Freedom of…
17th July 2015
Minister for the Cabinet Office Matthew Hancock laid a written statement in Parliament about the new Commission on Freedom of Information. We are committed to being the most transparent government in the world. To deliver that goal we are opening up government to citizens by making it easier to access information and increase the volume…
15th July 2015
On 2nd July 2015, the steering group of the Open Government Civil Society Network met with the new Minister for the Cabinet Office, Matthew Hancock MP, to discuss open government in the UK. Please see a note from the meeting below. OGN Meeting with Matthew Hancock MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office Date: Thursday 2nd…
13th July 2015
The Minister for Cabinet Office, Matt Hancock, launched the development of the UK’s new Open Government Partnership National Action Plan: Thank you for that introduction Simon [Burall, Involve]. You’ve been a leading voice for democratic reform and I know you’ve worked in some tough environments across the world. Your job would have been particularly tough if…
10th July 2015
Open Knowledge have published a discussion paper on democratic engagement with data: “What will the “data revolution” do? What will it be about? What will it count? What kinds of risks and harms might it bring? Whom and what will it serve? And who will get to decide? Today we are launching a new discussion…
9th July 2015
From the Campaign for Freedom of Information: “The Government is likely to be considering three sets of new restrictions to the FOI Act. These are likely to involve: (1) preventing the disclosure of government policy discussions (2) strengthening the ministerial veto (3) making it easier for authorities to refuse FOI requests on cost grounds The…
25th June 2015
We want to know how you think government and public services in the UK can be improved through greater transparency, participation and accountability. Fighting corruption. Ensuring public money is well spent. Improving public services. Developing better policy and laws. Knowing how decisions are being made, and who is influencing them. Making the voices of citizens…
25th June 2015
News on changes to the OGP civil society leadership, from the OGP blog: “OGP is growing up. At the end of the month, a dozen countries will complete new national action plans, adding to the more than 2,000 commitments already made and many delivered. Several of these countries are embarking on their second national action…
24th June 2015
The Campaign for Freedom of Information, an Open Government Network member, has expressed concern at yesterday’s Commons statement by the Justice Secretary Michael Gove saying that the government would “revisit” the Freedom of Information Act to ensure that civil servants’ advice to ministers was protected so they could “speak candidly”. The Campaign’s director Maurice Frankel…