He adds that improved access to public sector information is "an essential component of the EU strategy for stimulating new business opportunities and addressing societal challenges".
One key area for the future must be public sector information – we have a vast resource of data sets which currently lie dormant in Whitehall departments.
Ms Kroes proposed widening a 2003 European directive on the re-use of public sector information to make it a "general rule" that all documents produced by public bodies can be re-used for any purpose, and that public bodies should not be allowed to levy charges for their data apart from the cost of meeting the specific request.
Deloitte's market analysis, published alongside Stephan Shakespeare's review of public sector information in May 2013, gave a value of £1.8bn per annum as the direct economic benefit from re-use of public sector information, and £6.8bn per annum when wider economic and social impacts were considered.
This national core reference data will then be the backbone of public sector information and the backbone of a data revolution led by Britain.
When the president signed an executive order earlier this year promoting private sector information sharing, companies like HackerOne must have done a little happy dance.
It's an enterprise product, sourcing public sector information mainly for public sector customers.
"In the past, governments tended to leave large tracts of public sector information unanalysed and under-used due to resource constraints and a cultural unwillingness to make it available".
I trust the government, which has cross-party, cross-sector support for this – as, by the way, we have demonstrated in our extensive and transparent consultation process with both experts and the wider public – to take on with enthusiasm this vital challenge of defining and delivering a visible, truly world-leading strategy for public sector information.
Recognizing that the requirements were four years old and set with limited sector information, the MOHSW HR Unit, with Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) support, conducted a workforce optimization study to review minimum staffing requirements and calculate optimal workforce needs.
It was a strategy for changing how government works -- using public sector information to create more innovative institutions and effective democracy.
