Information Rights (IRU)
Department for Business, Innovation &
Skills
1 Victoria Street,
London
SW1H 0ET
T +44 (0)20 7215 5000 - Public enquiries
Dr. Robert Whittaker
+44 (0)20 7215 6740 - Textphone (
for
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
those with hearing impairment)
E
xxx.xxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx
www.bis.gov.uk
BIS reference:
14/0376
26 March 2014
Dear Dr. Whittaker,
Thank you for your email
of 27 February 2014
where you requested the following information:
"Central government has negotiated a commercial agreement with
Ordnance Survey for the licence for OS OpenData and for its ongoing
maintenance. Under the Freedom of Information Act, I would like to
request a copy of this agreement, together with any subsequent
revisions and/or replacement agreements.”
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ('the Act'), you have the right to:
know whether we hold the information you require
be provided with that information (subject to any exemptions under the Act which may
apply).
I can confirm that the Department holds the information you have requested. The information
you requested is attached in the form of the agreement between Ordnance Survey and
government. To date there has been no further revision or variation to this agreement.
Some information constitutes personal data and has been withheld. Section 40 of the Act
provides an absolute exemption for personal data which then falls to be dealt with under the
Data Protection Act. Personal data of third parties can only be disclosed in accordance with the
data protection principles. In particular, the first data protection principle requires that disclosure
must be fair and lawful and must comply with one of the conditions in Schedule 2 of the Data
Protection Act. We do not think that it is fair to release the names of junior members of staff or
third parties
and do not think that any of the relevant conditions apply.
In relation to the specific questions you raise in your email, which relate to the terms of the
agreement, the detail is as follows:
(a) the licence under which Ordnance Survey is to release the OS OpenData products. Schedule 2 in the attached agreement outlines the terms under which the data is released by
Ordnance Survey.
(b) the process and time scale for revising / extending the agreement. Clause 7.2
identifies the method for extending the duration of the agreement beyond the initial term that is
defined as 10 years from the commencement date, which was 1 April 2010.
(c) the role of National Archives / Office of Public Sector Information (if any). National
Archives were involved with the development of the licence terms under which OS OpenData is
released and more information can be found within the licence at
http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/docs/licences/os-opendata-licence.pdf Appeals Procedure
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal
review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of
the response to your original letter and should be sent to the Information Rights Unit at:
Information Rights Unit
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
1 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0ET
E-mail: xxx.xxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly
to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be
contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 5AF
Yours sincerely,
Information Economy
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
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