The confusion of the Public Data Corporation

This press release was posted by the Land Registry yesterday, and it's left me a bit confused.

What are these Public Data Organisations (PDOs) the Government is creating? I had never heard mention of these before.
The Met Office, Ordnance Survey, and Land Register are moving into this PDO? Why?
The Land Registry was part of the Ministry of Justice? Really?
The Land Registry will be part of the Department for Business, Innovations and Skills - that seems like an odd combination.
Why are there no links to any of the supporting materials mentioned in the press release. The "previous work on the Feasibility Study"? The "findings reported to ministers"?
Why was this not announced earlier than on the day it actually happened?
Why is the enabling legislation coming into force after the change happens - why was it not made and in force in advance of this move?

So...the moneymaking Government departments are being hived off into a mysterious body called a PDO, which there are no links to the justification for, there's no information on what it will do, and a consultation will happen "in the summer" (we're halfway through it now, so they'd better move fast!) which will establish "membership, structure, and commercial strategy" based on the consultation, "later this year"...this just seems a bit chaotic, vague, and thrown together!

And these new PDOs.. they sound like they're all going to be commercial enterprises, to exploit the data the Government agencies produce...what does this mean for the public trying to access this data?

Anyone know more about this stuff?

Comments

Library words

Putting words about libraries and books onto posters is very popular, so there's all sorts of options out there. These items are here because they have a quote or slogan about libraries or books printed on them. There's one quote in particular that seems to be a favourite of poster makers: see if you can spot which one it is.... Library bird (ok, it's a magnet, but hey...) Print Print Print Print Digital printable Hand-lettered quote Print Linocut block print Vinyl wall sticker Print Letterpress print Digital printable Print Print Linocut print Print Print

Mini Christmas gifts

Miniature things are one of my favourites, and miniature books are no exception. These tiny books are available either as volumes or sets of volumes on their own, or as parts of dolls house or in specialised miniature library settings. And some of the miniature libraries are just insanely good! I've not included here the many options of wearable miniature books - earrings, necklaces, bracelets, badges... A book with its own drawer for safekeeping Mini clay books Decorative mini books Ghosts in the library books Not exactly miniature, but very small "Little Leather Library" collection How about a Medieval illuminated book, in miniature? Or one with a secret compartment? There are even illustrated erotic mini books! You can theme by colour! Dollshouse insta-library (including 50 Shades of Grey, and the Hunger Games trilogies) Miniature haunted library Miniature Victorian library Still one of my favourites: themed mini

The library look - part two

Continuing the theme of art featuring libraries and librarians...let us pick up again where we left off.... In the rural library Shields library Original life portrait Library lion Birds nest In the library browsing Library freak Book lover At the library Library love Library gal Book lovers Read with me Book store girl Bath reading room Owls going to the library Sometimes, some other animals manage to creep into the library... Reading bear Bookworm

Dumpling in a Hanky

Search This Blog