Locus planning key industry event: “PSI – The Next Ten Years"

Locus, as some of you will know, was established to encourage the public sector (primarily in the UK) to maintain a trading environment that is fair and equitable, in particular in relation to the licensing and re-use of public sector information. Our members are private sector companies that are committed to working with PSI holders to maintain and develop a vibrant, information-driven UK economy that ultimately works to the benefit of the public sector, private sector and end consumer.

Locus acts as a forum for exchange of information, keeps its members up to date with latest policy developments, and provides advice and guidance. Each year we hold several events that are open to non-members, to raise the level of discussion on a particular topic. In January, we’re hosting what we expect to be a landmark PSI event examining the future of the UK PSI marketplace in light of the upcoming General Election. Right now the Labour Government is pushing forward a number of plans to give away data, and to change the structure of Ordnance Survey. However, if we have a change of Government in May (or before), that would very likely all change, making it difficult for those of us who work with PSI to know what the future will hold.

We’ve therefore put together a top-notch panel to discuss Government and Conservative PSI policy. Our speakers are:

• Francis Maude MP, Conservative Shadow Cabinet Office Minister;
• Professor Nigel Shadbolt, the Prime Minister’s Information Advisor, and
• Sir Bryan Carsberg, Locus President, and former Director General of the OFT and Oftel.

I’ll be chairing the event.

We believe this timely and exciting event will be an excellent opportunity to hear about Government and Conservative PSI policy ahead of the next General Election, and to provide policy-makers with input at a key time for PSI in the UK.

The event will be held on Monday 25^th January, 5.30-7.00pm, at Olswang LLP, 90 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6XX. For further information, or to register for the event, please contact Harriet Crosthwaite, of Luther Pendragon on

Tel : +44 20 7618 9136

or email: harrietcrosthwaite@luther.co.uk

This promises to be a very busy month for PSI in the UK; over the next few weeks I’ll provide blog posts with Locus’s views on the Communities and Local Government Consultation on Ordnance Survey; the London Datastore (announced today); derived data, and other topics as they come along.

Locus thanks the ePSIplatform for the opportunity to contribute our views to the PSI debate.