An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government – Public Data Use (NO0016)
Overview
At-a-Glance
Action Plan: Norway – First National Action Plan – 2012-2013
Action Plan Cycle: 2011
Status:
Institutions
Lead Institution: NA
Support Institution(s): NA
Policy Areas
Public ParticipationIRM Review
IRM Report: Norway First IRM Progress Report 2011-2013
Early Results: No IRM Data
Design i
Verifiable: Pending IRM Review
Relevant to OGP Values: No Data
Ambition (see definition): No Data
Implementation i
Completion: Pending IRM Review
Description
The Central Government Communication Policy came into force on 16 October 2009, and applies to all ministries and government agencies.
The aim of the policy is to ensure that citizens:
• Receive correct and clear information about their rights, responsibilities and opportunities
• Have access to information about the Government’s activities
• Are invited to participate in the formulation of policies, arrangements and services.
This policy is based on six principles: Openness, participation, access to relevant information for all citizens, activeness, coherence and line management.
Surveys have shown that one in three Norwegians have difficulty understanding official documents, letters and forms, and many contributions are returned because they are poorly written. This is not very effective. Moreover, it is a democratic right to understand documents written by the public authorities. Our response to this problem is the Plain Language Project (www.klarspråk.no), whose aim is that public administration documents should be written in concise, clear language. We have focused particularly on the language used in legislation, because there is a tendency to use unclear legal provisions in regulations, circulars, information material and letters.