Plan to make better use of government data among measures announced in Queen’s speech
The government is to consult again on proposals to share data more widely across the public sector, the Queen's Speech has revealed.
Among a series of ambitions for a Digital Economy Bill announced in the speech is a commitment to use data to deliver better public services and produce world leading research and statistics. To enable this, the government will "consult on better sharing of publicly held datasets to improve service delivery whilst maintaining safeguards on privacy".
Outstanding debts
Initiatives involving data sharing are expected to include reducing outstanding debts to the government by identifying individuals with who owe money to a number of public agencies.
Meanwhile the UK Statistics Authority will be given "easier secure access to data to produce more timely and accurate national and official statistics", and researchers provided with "a more complete and accurate evidence base to inform analysis and enable better policy design and delivery".
These ideas were floated earlier this year in the Cabinet Office consultation Better use of Data in Government.
Land Registry
Controversial plans to privatise Land Registry are to be taken forward in a Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Bill. According to a Government briefing paper, the legislation "would enable the privatisation of Land Registry, which would support the delivery of a modern, digitally based land registration service that will benefit the Land Registry’s customers, such as people buying or selling their home. It could also return a capital receipt to the Exchequer to help reduce national debt."
A consultation on the sale of Land Registry closes on 26 May.
Other measures announced in the Queen's Speech include a Modern Transport Bill to underpin the use of driverless vehicles and enable the construction of a UK spaceport.
