Four months after Guardian Technology launched the Free Our Data campaign, a meeting in London on a sweltering Monday evening firmly settled at least one question: are people really interested in public-sector information policy? The fact that at least 130 interested people packed the lecture theatre at the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts suggests that the answer is yes. Many came armed with questions for an expert panel including both supporters and critics of the campaign, in a meeting chaired by Derek Wyatt MP, an RSA fellow who also leads the All-Party Internet Group.
There wasn't unanimous backing for our campaign. In fact, it was criticised for over-simplifying an issue of many complexities and competing passions. But there was also support, sometimes from unexpected quarters. And there was a concluding thought from Wyatt - seeking to pullthe levers of government - who observed: "What I've been wondering is, who would I go to in government with this issue? The Department of Trade and Industry? Cabinet Office? Department of Culture, Media and Sport?" As one attendee later observed, "There's no minister for public information". Which may be part of the challenge.
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