Chair of Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information

In April 2003, Richard was appointed by the Cabinet Office as the first Chair of a non-departmental public body, known as the Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information or APPSI (originally, it was called the Advisory Panel on Crown Copyright). The terms of reference of the Panel are:
  • to advise Ministers on how to encourage and create opportunities in the information industry for greater reuse of Government information;
  • to advise the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office about changes and opportunities in the information industry, so that the licensing of Crown copyright information is aligned with current and emerging developments; and
  • to advise on the impact of the complaints procedures under the Information Fair Trader Scheme.
Further details about the work of the Panel can be found at www.hmso.gov.uk/appsi.
Richard's leadership of APPSI builds on his experience as a member of the Modernising Government Project Board (run by the Cabinet Office, 1999-2001). It also dovetails effectively with his membership, since late 2003, of the Freedom of Information Project Board at the Department for Constitutional Affairs.