The study we are currently finishing aims to make the first point by drawing comparison with other domains where information gathered by a public-sector body (PSB) has been made available for re-use. There is growing evidence that such a PSI free re-use policy will give greater returns to public treasuries through taxation than charging for the data in the first place (as is often the case today). Nevertheless, firm figures are hard to find and the arguments still rest largely on other considerations.

The re-use part is the key term. Some time ago, governments recognised that some of the information they gathered had value outside and beyond government use. They asked that the agencies who gather such data make it available to consumers and business – but at a price.