The on-line statute law database moved closer to reality last month when the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) told users that the final Web-based system will be fundamentally free to use.


The decision was revealed in a newsletter from the DCA's Statutory Publications Office (SPO), announcing the end of the first public 'beta' test phase of the database.



The next phase is expected to have more than twice the number of users from a wider audience, including members of the public.



Until now it has been unclear how the DCA would operate a charging element for the database (see (2006) Gazette, 30 March, 11). But it appears that pressure from various sources has won the day - the SPO said the Web 'will be launched free of charge to the public once piloting is complete. A commercial strategy will still be developed, but will primarily be looking at options that concern the commercial reuse of data' as well as functionality for 'specialist users'.



The Law Society welcomed the move. A spokeswoman said: 'We are very pleased that this is being made available to everyone free of charge. The database will be a useful resource for solicitors and others.'



However, she added that it needs to present both current and historical data, as 'an Act of Parliament may be considerably changed after it has come into force, and both the original text and the later changes to it need to be easily accessible'.



Rupert White