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Home Department
Departmental Disclosure of Information

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether (a) agencies and (b) non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible sell information on a commercial basis to (i) companies or individuals in the private sector and (ii) other organisations. [313227]

Meg Hillier: The agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which the Home Office is responsible make most of their general information available free, via publications or their websites (subject to relevant copyright provisions). Where applicable, most Crown copyright information is available for free re-use under the PSI Click-Use Licence. In common with Government policy, some information is sold as priced publications.

Of the agencies for which the Home Office is responsible, the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) provides criminal record information to private companies and other organisations for the purposes of pre-employment checks under Part V of the Police Act 1997. A fee is payable to cover the cost of this service, as provided for in the Act.

In addition, the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) provides a call centre service to accredited private sector organisations to check the validity of passports presented to their business as evidence of identity. IPS does not sell personal data to the organisations; it merely confirms the validity of passport information provided by the
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organisation. The IPS also provides access to passport records to accredited public sector organisations for the purposes of confirming identity, nationality and/or the validation of a British passport. IPS charges organisations in order to recover the costs incurred in providing these services.

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Departmental Disclosure of Information

David Davis: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport which (a) agencies and (b) non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible
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sell information on a commercial basis to (i) companies or individuals in the private sector and (ii) other organisations. [313270]

Chris Mole: Agencies/non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) that have Crown status, make most of their information available for free re-use under the PSI Click-Use Licence. Government trading funds are able under their trading fund status to charge for the services they provide in order to cover their costs. This covers information and its supply provided to other public bodies, commercial organisations and individuals. In common with other government policy, some information is sold as priced publications.

Following are details about selling of information by Department for Transport agencies and NDPBs:

Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)

The MCA does sell information to companies and members of the public. For example, on request, information from the MCA's Public Register of UK ships and information that relates to search and rescue incidents from the MCA's systems is sold, all in compliance with the Data Protection Act.

Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA)

VCA has the remit to meet its full costs from earned income, and operates in a competitive market. VCA sells type approval legislation and its associated interpretations.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)

DVLA is a Government trading fund which has authority to charge for the services it provides in order to cover its costs. This covers information supplied to commercial organisations and individuals.

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA)

VOSA does not currently sell information on a commercial basis. Some information has been provided to the agency's commercial customers on a cost recovery basis. The agency is assessing the opportunity and business case for further use of its information assets.

Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA)

The GCDA does not sell information on a commercial basis to companies or individuals in the private sector and other organisations.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA)

DSA licenses its theory test item banks and hazard perception film clips to all sectors under the Information Fair Trader Scheme, regulated by the Office of Public Sector Information. The Stationery Office Ltd. (a private sector publisher) currently publishes DSA official learning materials and "The Official Highway Code". DSA receives a royalty on sales as part of the contract price.

The Highways Agency (HA)

The HA charges an access fee for video images and stills from the road network videos to various media companies, e.g. the BBC. The charge is minimal and is based on recovery of the costs of supplying the images.

Non-departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs)

The Department for Transport is also responsible for 12 NDPBs. Of these, four are advisory or tribunal bodies; four are Executive NDPBs which do not sell information on a commercial basis; four are classified as public corporations. These are the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA); the Northern Lighthouse Board and
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Trinity House; Trust Ports. The public corporations receive most of their income from selling goods and services rather than from grant or voted supply.

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Departmental Disclosure of Information

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether (a) agencies and (b) non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible sell information on a commercial basis to (i) companies or individuals in the private sector and (ii) other organisations. [313224]

Dan Norris: DEFRA's agencies and NDPBs make most of their information available free of charge for non-commercial use. In some cases a small charge, to recover the marginal cost of supply, is levied. The Environment Agency, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and CEFAS supply some of their data on a commercial basis for which a charge is made in accordance with the reuse of public sector information regulations.

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Departmental Disclosure of Information

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether (a) agencies and (b) non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible sell information on a commercial basis to (i) companies or individuals in the private sector and (ii) other organisations. [313220]

Barbara Follett: Government Departments and agencies make most of their information available for free re-use under the Public Sector Information (PSI) Click-Use Licence. CLG's executive NDPBs make relevant information freely available by publishing it on their websites. CLG's trading funds; the Ordnance Survey, the Fire Service College and the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre can charge for the services they provide in order to cover their costs. This includes information supplied to other public bodies, commercial organisations and individuals. In common with other Government policy, some information is sold as priced publications.”