As part of Gordon Brown’s latest reshuffle, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the architect of the World Wide Web has been appointed to open up access to government data.

On paper an extremely positive move. It is taxpayer’s data after all and citizen involvement via the web is increasing. Providing real, accurate government data will deliver the transparency that people need to understand what is happening on key issues.

There are big differences between this project and the creation of the World Wide Web. The web provided a platform for people who want (and in some cases are desperate) to share information. Can anyone (let alone someone based in the US) persuade notoriously secretive local and central government mandarins to give up information – particularly when it might show they are not doing a good job?

This is a major cultural change – if Sir Tim can crack this it will arguably be a bigger achievement than inventing the hyperlink…….