Publication of National Dataset List kicks off Defra’s programme for the government’s largest data giveaway
The Environment Agency has published a list of the data it holds as a first step in the programme of its parent ministry – the Department for Envirnoment, Food and Rural Affairs (Deffra) – to release at least 8,000 datasets over the next year.
The National Dataset List was made available last week to show some of the some of what might be released as open data.
A Defra blogpost says the list is still “a work in progress” and that some may not be released for legal or national security reasons, and is likely to be updated monthly.
It has also produced a guidance document with further information on issues such as possible repetition, incorrect data names and third party data not being on the list.
Accuracy issue
The department warns that some of the data will not be 100% accurate, but says it believes the benefits of making it available will outweigh the risks.
When originally announcing the programme in June, Environment secretary Elizabeth Truss (pictured) highlighted the potential to support the food and farming industry by giving farmers and the food and environment industries access to the data and through the development of relevant data services.
She said it would support the productivity of farming and the food industry, and support the leisure industry through relevant environmental information.
The move is part of the government's wider open agenda in government, which aims to make data available for others to re-use in research or developing new services.
Image from gov.uk under Open Government Licence v3.0
