BOOST TO SCOTLAND’S GEOGRAPHY

14 May 2010, 9:18am

John Swinney has announced moves to improve access to Scotland’s geographical data.

The Finance Secretary was at the Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s 125th anniversary event in Edinburgh last night (12 May), and highlighted two developments designed to make geographic information more widely available.

Mr Swinney said:

“Geographic information is vital to people and public bodies in Scotland today. At least 80 per cent of all government information has a geographic basis and the people of Scotland all have their own personal geographies – their native heath, their home, their holiday plans, and the council and NHS board from which they access services.

“Two new developments will make this important geographic information more accessible to service providers and the Scottish public.

“First, Ordnance Survey mapping information will be made routinely available to the entire Scottish public sector, and private sector and voluntary bodies which provide government services. This extends a groundbreaking Agreement I signed last year with the Ordnance Survey, to make its mapping information available to over 70 Scottish public bodies. Extending accessibility to Ordnance Survey’s maps will further help to improve and realise efficiencies across government services.

“Second, there will be a European geography conference in Scotland next June, at which arrangements will be put in place to make key geographic information publicly available in electronic form. This is a requirement under a new European law – the INSPIRE Directive – which came into effect in Scotland in December.”

www.scotland.gsi.gov.uk

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