{"id":33499,"date":"2013-10-31T12:00:01","date_gmt":"2013-10-31T12:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=663dfa8313018479f217548c28641f53"},"modified":"2013-10-31T12:00:01","modified_gmt":"2013-10-31T12:00:01","slug":"press-release-uk-uses-open-government-partnership-summit-to-make-transparency-a-reality-for-citizens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=33499","title":{"rendered":"Press release: UK uses Open Government Partnership summit to make transparency a reality for citizens"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The UK government has announced wide-ranging new commitments to bring more of the benefits of transparency into people\u2019s everyday lives. Today, Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude said: \u201cTransparency is an idea whose time has come\u201d.<\/p>\n

He was speaking at the Open Government Partnership (OGP<\/abbr>)<\/a> annual summit in London, which the UK is hosting as OGP<\/abbr> lead co-chair.<\/p>\n

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Read the UK OGP<\/abbr> National Action Plan<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The UK government also announced a range of other new commitments to bring more of the benefits of transparency into people\u2019s everyday lives, making clear that an open and transparent government is a vital part of any country\u2019s plan for prosperity and its ability to succeed in the global race. Leading by example, the UK has committed itself to create a publicly accessible central registry of information on beneficial ownership. The registry will contain information about who ultimately owns and controls UK companies.<\/p>\n

Prime Minister David Cameron told the summit:<\/p>\n

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We need to know who really owns and controls our companies. Not just who owns them legally, but who really benefits financially from their existence.<\/p>\n

This summer at the G8<\/a> we committed to do just that \u2013 to establish a central register of company beneficial ownership. And today I\u2019m delighted to announce that not only is that register going to go ahead – but that it\u2019s also going to be open to the public.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

As well as securing stretching new commitments from participating countries, the UK is using the summit to help drive forward the transparency agenda at home, especially on open data and corporate accountability. <\/p>\n

Fulfilling its OGP<\/abbr> obligations, on day 1 of the summit, the UK published its second National Action Plan<\/a> (NAP) This has been developed through extensive negotiations between government and representatives of the UK\u2019s Civil Society Network. <\/p>\n

The summit has also seen publication of the first version of a National Information Infrastructure (NII),<\/a> comprising datasets held by government that are most likely to fuel economic and social growth and innovation. Developed in public consultation with business and civil society, this is a world-leading development that other countries may want to emulate. <\/p>\n

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See the latest announcements: Open Government Partnership Summit 2013<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Other announcements include commitments to: <\/p>\n