We carry out our licensing within parameters set by the Re-Use of Public Sector Information Regulations, Competition Law and our obligations to be fair, open and transparent as an accredited Information Fair Trader.
We carry out our licensing within parameters set by the Re-Use of Public Sector Information Regulations, competition law and our obligations to be fair, open and transparent as an accredited Information Fair Trader.
Information Fair Trader Scheme
The Environment Agency is committed to trading in information fairly. To show the strength of this commitment, we have received accreditation from the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI).
We pride ourselves on being open and transparent to our stakeholders. An important part of this is making high quality data and information available to members of the public, whether directly or via commercial users. Commercial users have an important role to play in providing access to value added data and information so that every day and life-changing decisions are made in full awareness of the environment. We are happy to trade data and information with commercial users on a level playing field.
We are committed to trading data and information fairly with commercial users and partner organisations. We will do so in accordance with the five pillars of the scheme: openness, transparency, fairness, compliance and challenge. We also want to:
- maximise the information available for re-use by licensees, the number and variety of licensees and the number and variety of methods of re-using Environment Agency data and information;
- present publicly available, clear, accurate, accessible and complete information on the processes for licensing, the qualifications for different types of licensing treatment, and conditions such as pricing. Potential licensees will be able to understand the role of licensing in production and maintenance of the data and information licensed for reuse by the Environment Agency. This information, as well as any exceptions, will be available on our website and from the Information Enterprise Centre;
- ensure that the treatment of actual and potential licensees is fair. Fair treatment and outcomes will be evident both between different licensees and groups of licensees, and between licensees and the Environment Agency as an Information Fair Trader. We will meet the terms of the Competition Act 1988;
- ensure, through review and audit, that our information trading business processes are effective, robust and not evaded;
- reduce as far as possible the administrative burden on people who re-use public sector information and ensure that the processes for trading information are similar to those of the rest of the public sector; and
- have robust and fair complaints processes. If OPSI decide to investigate a complaint, we will allow the OPSI investigation team to see the relevant staff and records.
