Office of Public Sector Information
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The Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) is the new body responsible for the operation of Her Majesty's Stationery Office (usually abbreviated as HMSO) and of other public information services of the United Kingdom. OPSI is part of the Cabinet Office of the United Kingdom and it is responsible for Crown Copyright.
OPSI announced on June 21, 2006 that it was merging with The National Archives to create a joined-up approach to information management within government. This merger took place in October 2006. OPSI continues to discharge its roles and responsibilities from within the structure of The National Archives.
[edit] Controller of OPSI
The Controller of OPSI (that also has the role of Controller of HMSO, given that HMSO was incorporated into OPSI but not abolished) holds the offices of Queen's Printer of Acts of Parliament, Queen's Printer for Scotland and Government Printer for Northern Ireland.
Due to the Controller holding those offices OPSI publishes, through HMSO, the London Gazette, Edinburgh Gazette, Belfast Gazette and all legislation in the United Kingdom, including Acts of Parliament, Acts of the Scottish Parliament and Statutory Instruments.
It is a common misconception that the Controller of OPSI also holds the office of Queen's Printer. This office is separate from the functions of OPSI and is connected with the rights to print, publish and import the King James Bible and Book of Common Prayer within England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The current holder of this office is Cambridge University Press.
[edit] History
HMSO was established as a new department of HM Treasury on 5 April 1786, when John Mayor was appointed as its first "Superintendent". From 1822, all government departments were required to buy stationery through the open competitions and tenders operated by HMSO. HMSO also took over as official publisher from Hansard in 1882. In 1889, HMSO was granted Letters Patent under which it was appointed as Queen's Printer of Acts of Parliament ("printer to Her Majesty of all Acts of Parliament"). These letters patent also appointed the Controller of HMSO as administrator of the rights of Crown copyright. HMSO also took over publication of the London Gazette in the same year.
Most of its publishing functions were privatised in 1996 as a separate company known as The Stationery Office (TSO), but HMSO continued as a separate part of the Cabinet Office. Prior to 1996, it was the publisher of virtually all government material, such as Command papers, legislation and official histories. After 1996 the Controller of HMSO remained Queen's Printer of Acts of Parliament and retained the role of administering Crown copyright.
Following privatisation of the trading functions in 1996, HMSO retained vital public responsibilities. HMSO continues with its core responsibilities for the management of Crown copyright and the statutory responsibilities for production of legislation and the official Gazettes while providing advice and guidance for departments on official publishing matters.
In 1996, the trading functions of HMSO were privatized, and are now discharged by The Stationery Office, Ltd (TSO). After privatization, HMSO retained vital public responsibilities. HMSO continues with its core responsibilities for the management of Crown copyright and the statutory responsibilities for production of legislation and the official Gazettes while providing advice and guidance for departments on official publishing matters.
The privatization was not the final stage in HMSO’s changing role. As part of the implementation of the European Union directive on the re-use of public sector information, it was decided that there was a need for a dedicated body to be the principal focal point for advising on and regulating the operation of public sector information re-use. That new body, created in 2005 is the OPSI.
HMSO continues to exist fulfill its core activities including responsibility for the publication of legislation and the management of Crown copyright, but now operates within OPSI.
