Question 14: It is proposed that the power to improve access to information by public authorities for the purpose of better managing debt owed to government will be reviewed by the Minister after a defined period of time. This time will allow for pilots to be established and outcomes and benefits evaluated. How long should the debt power be operational for before it is reviewed? 75. There were thirty-four responses to this question.The majority of respondents recommended that the gateway be operational for a period of three years before review and government will adopt that timeframe. Many of the respondents who recommended a time period longer than two years commented on the need to allow sufficient time for pilots to be designed, tested, revised where appropriate, establish infrastructure and partnership agreements, and follow-up work to assess costs, outcomes and benefits. The view held by many of these respondents was that any shorter period of time would risk poor quality information on which to base the review of the gateway. A number of respondents also recommended that the timeframe should be consistent with the timeframe established for the proposed fraud powers. 76. A number of responses asked for the use of the gateway and pilots to be monitored and reviewed on a more regular basis, with some suggesting that reviews or monitoring be carried out on a biannual or ongoing basis due to the potential high negative impact on affected citizens. Amongst the comments made by respondents was the recommendation that monitoring data should be available throughout the period the gateway is active to reduce the timeframe at the end of the pilots as well as provide greater transparency on the use and effectiveness of the proposed power. 77. A number of respondents for a sunset clause to be included within the proposed power rather than take the approach to carry out a Ministerial review and include provisions to repeal the legislation if necessary. Government response - question 14 78. The majority of respondents supported a period of years for the gateway to be operational before it is reviewed. Government set out the view in the consultation paper that sunsetting the proposed power after a defined period of time would result in delays and potential difficulties in reintroducing powers if the powers proved to be effective in addressing debt issues.We also recognise the concerns about the lack of parliamentary scrutiny of the final review and will consider further how external independent assessment of the power can be factored into the decision-making process in an open and transparent way that builds public confidence. Chapter 3.1 - Access to data must be linked and de-identified using defined processes for research purposes General comments
Question 14: It is proposed that the power to improve access to information by public authorities for the purpose of better managing debt owed to government will be reviewed by the Minister after a defined period of time. This time will allow for pilots to be established and outcomes and benefits evaluated. How long should the debt power be operational for before it is reviewed? 75. There were thirty-four responses to this question.The majority of respondents recommended that the gateway be operational for a period of three years before review and government will adopt that timeframe. Many of the respondents who recommended a time period longer than two years commented on the need to allow sufficient time for pilots to be designed, tested, revised where appropriate, establish infrastructure and partnership agreements, and follow-up work to assess costs, outcomes and benefits. The view held by many of these respondents was that any shorter period of time would risk poor quality information on which to base the review of the gateway. A number of respondents also recommended that the timeframe should be consistent with the timeframe established for the proposed fraud powers. 76. A number of responses asked for the use of the gateway and pilots to be monitored and reviewed on a more regular basis, with some suggesting that reviews or monitoring be carried out on a biannual or ongoing basis due to the potential high negative impact on affected citizens. Amongst the comments made by respondents was the recommendation that monitoring data should be available throughout the period the gateway is active to reduce the timeframe at the end of the pilots as well as provide greater transparency on the use and effectiveness of the proposed power. 77. A number of respondents for a sunset clause to be included within the proposed power rather than take the approach to carry out a Ministerial review and include provisions to repeal the legislation if necessary. Government response - question 14 78. The majority of respondents supported a period of years for the gateway to be operational before it is reviewed. Government set out the view in the consultation paper that sunsetting the proposed power after a defined period of time would result in delays and potential difficulties in reintroducing powers if the powers proved to be effective in addressing debt issues.We also recognise the concerns about the lack of parliamentary scrutiny of the final review and will consider further how external independent assessment of the power can be factored into the decision-making process in an open and transparent way that builds public confidence. Chapter 3.1 - Access to data must be linked and de-identified using defined processes for research purposes General comments
better_use_of_data_in_government_response_final.docx