Second Reading for Bill seeking to make underground asset register mandatory

The Data (Use and Access) Bill had its Second Reading in the Lords last week.

Part three is on the national underground asset register (NUAR) and would put this comprehensive digital map of the country's underground pipes and cables on a statutory footing.

For the Government, Baroness Jones of Whitchurch explained: “The measures mandate that owners of underground infrastructure, such as water companies or telecoms operators, register their assets on NUAR. This will deliver more than £400m per year through more efficient data sharing, reduced accidents and delays, and improved worker safety.

“The proposed measures will also allow this data to be used for additional prescribed use cases, such as improved street work co-ordination, where commercial and national security considerations allow.”

The eight-part Bill is wide ranging and cross sector. It seeks to harness the power of data to drive economic growth, support modern digital government and improve people’s lives.