Public accounts committee slams public sector organisations over open data

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has criticised public-sector organisations that dump raw data into the public domain insufficiently formatted to enable people and companies to analyse and make use of it, the Computing reported.

The publication of the data is required by government in the name of transparency and openness and, ultimately, to improve the quality of public services. However, the PAC warned that publishing the raw data alone is not enough.

"The government has a lot more work to do before that potential is realised," said Margaret Hodge MP, chair of the PAC.

"It is simply not good enough to dump large quantities of raw data into the public domain. It must be accessible, relevant and easy for us all to understand. Otherwise the public cannot use it to make comparisons and exercise choice, which is the key objective of the transparency agenda."
Hodge was commenting on a report into the transparency process, published by the PAC today.

"Some data is very difficult to interpret," she said, "such as on local government spending, and there are important gaps in information, such as incomplete price and performance information on adult social care."
She added: "At the moment too much data is poorly presented and difficult to interpret. In some sectors, such as adult social care, there are big gaps in the information provided so users cannot use it to make informed choices.

Cost-benefit analysis

Furthermore, regulations need to be implemented to ensure that the publication of public data cannot be blocked by outsourced public services in the name of commercial confidentiality. "We must be able to follow the taxpayers' pound wherever it is spent," said Hodge.

The report adds: "Poor or incomplete data hinders the ability of users to exercise effective choice, for example on care providers. It also undermines the ability of service deliverers and policy makers to focus on improving quality."

However, Hodge also suggested that the release of data ought to be subject to a cost-benefit analysis to ensure that the taxpayer gets value for money from the process.

"Data is also being issued by government and other public bodies without any clear idea of the costs, benefits and risks of doing so. The government should develop a comprehensive analysis of what it actually costs to release data, and of the real benefits and risks," she said.