Welcome to GI Panel
UK Location Strategy
The UK Location Strategy has been published, together with a response from the UK Location Council to comments received from interested stakeholders.
DEFRA has now created the UK Location Programme website, where you can find information about the implementation of both the UK Government's Location Strategy and the EU INSPIRE Directive.
Geographic information is information about objects or phenomena that are associated with a location relative to the surface of the Earth.
The Geographic Information Panel aims to give high-level advice to CLG Ministers on geographic information issues of national importance for the United Kingdom, in particular:
- to identify the key medium to long-term geographic information issues and advise Government through regular short reports to Ministers;
- to encourage more effective, extensive and systematic use of geographic information, led by the example of Government Departments and other public bodies where appropriate;
- to facilitate a co-ordinated position on potential legislation, both national and international, that might impact on the geographic information market; and
- to promote a coherent approach to the management of geographic information in the United Kingdom.
During 2006, the Geographic Information Panel awarded a contract to develop a geographic information strategy for the United Kingdom. In discussions with senior officials across Government during the development of the Strategy it became evident that it was more appropriate to describe it as a Location Strategy. The Strategy was submitted to Ministers in October 2007.
The formation of the Geographic Information Panel was announced by Yvette Cooper MP, Minister at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 4 April 2005. This announcement followed an earlier written statement made to the House of Commons on 20 June 2004
The Panel is advisory and has no regulatory role.
The members of the Panel represent key interest groups in government, the private sector and the wider Geographic Information industry across the United Kingdom.
In establishing the Panel, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced the Panel's Terms of Reference.
Minutes of the Panel's meetings are available.
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