Information as valuable as money in strategy shake-up

After a series of embarrassing data losses, the Civil Service has finally unveiled a strategy to improve the way government and the public sector manage and protect information.

In a bid to put information at the heart of government, the Information Matters strategy will be driven by the cross-government Knowledge Council, which will help develop the framework, tools and capabilities for knowledge and information management.

The government said the Council would make knowledge and information management an essential corporate function, alongside finance and HR. It will also help build a culture of effective knowledge-sharing across government departments.

Endorsed by the head of the Home Civil Service Sir Gus O'Donnell, the strategy will also aim to develop professionalism of knowledge and information management by supporting governance, processes and technology.

Natalie Ceeney, government knowledge and information management chief, said: “The big thrust of this strategy is about getting information to be seen as a corporate asset. We want staff and boards to take information as seriously as all other assets.”

Ceeney said that the strategy brings together disparate guidance, and covers everything from culture to knowledge sharing and responsibilities.

Asked whether the strategy would avoid future data losses, Ceeney said: “It should help manage the risk. One of things we want to do is raise the standards and change the culture.

“Our challenge is a journey. This is the first stage. The next stage is setting a culture so that we see information as valuable as money.”

PA Consulting lost a £1.5m deal earlier this year after an employee lost an unencrypted memory stick holding the details of thousands of criminals.

And in November 2007 Paul Gray, the head of HMRC, had to resign after it was revealed in parliament that the personal details of 25 million Britons had been “lost in the post”. Again, the discs had no password protection.

Sir Gus said: “Information is vital to the business of government, and all civil servants have an essential role to play. Managing information well is an investment, and one that can bring significant returns for departments, government as a whole and ultimately for citizens, through the improved public services it can deliver.”
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