To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made in the development of the Public Data Corporation.

Since announcing the Public Data Corporation in January 2011, significant progress has been made. My officials are working closely with their counterparts in the Shareholder Executive in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and HM Treasury.

As announced in the Budget earlier this year, we are considering the merits of machinery of government changes to facilitate the development of a Public Data Corporation (PDC) through a sponsoring Department. We are putting in place a Transition Board (previously referred to as the Shadow Board) which will be jointly chaired by myself and the Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs, Mr Davey. This Transition Board will oversee the establishment of the PDC Board.