5.2: Embedding Best Practice
Work on updated guidance on publishing information, including requirements for publication in legislation. Other Information:
It is common for UK legislation to contain within it a statutory duty to publish defined items of information. These references
vary widely from instructions to publish in specific journals such as the London Gazette through to simple instructions that
something must be produced. Publishing technology has overtaken these instructions in legislation. Just as the phrase ‘in
writing’ has been overtaken. There is an opportunity to modernise the way information is published which would both be more
cost-effective and allow the information to be more easily used across multiple channels, thereby increasing the likelihood
of it reaching relevant audiences. The Taskforce has been pleased to see OPSI put the London Gazette online with sophisticated
data feeds making informaiton published there accessible to a far wider audience than ever before. We understand that this
work is a world leading demonstration of publishing for the semantic web by a government. We have also looked at the way in
which government publicises its job vacancies as an example of an area which could benefit from a smart application of new
technology. We believe that OPSI, working with COI is well placed to issue guidance on best practice for the evolving menu
of choices that public bodies can use for publishing public information. Where there is a statutory requirement to publish
‘notices’ or other information we consider that it would always have been Parliament’s intent to ensure that the information
reached all the relevant people. So, in addition if necessary to publishing in the form specified by statute, public bodies
should publish the same information on the internet in a manner specified by The National Archives (OPSI) so that it is searchable,
scrapable, and provides a structured feed. Many bodies may find it cost-effective to use the London Gazette service, which
is free to government. Recommendation OPSI, part of the National Archives and COI should work on updated guidance on publishing
information, including requirements for publication in legislation. Guidance should help information producers publish in
a form that is cost-effective, reaches the largest audience and can easily be re-used. Public bodies are often required to
publish notices and other information in newspapers, by physical notices or by other means. The same information should now
also be published directly to the internet. This will increase the opportunity for those people and businesses affected to
see the information, either directly (for example, by search) or by others ‘mashing’ the information in the ways promoted
elsewhere in this report. In doing so, public bodies should follow the OPSI guidance and many may find it cost-effective to
use the London Gazette service rather than develop their own systems.
Indicator(s):
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