Public sector bodies in the UK will not be able to publish data on Google Maps, despite a new deal lifting restrictions on the distribution of public mapping data.

UK government mapping agency the Ordnance Survey collects and sells mapping data to the public and private sector. The agency recently signed an agreement with the UK Government to provide free geographic information to around 800 public sector organisations.

The Public Sector Mapping Agreement (PSMA) comes into effect in April next year and gives councils and public bodies free and unlimited access to government mapping data where previously they would have been charged.

The move forms part of the government’s pledge to open up officially held information, so councils and public bodies can easily and efficiently improve local services and local people can see at the touch of a button how their local services are doing.

But currently local authorities can’t use Google Maps – the most popular online mapping system – to publish the location of services, though they will be able to use other web mapping systems.

This is because the Ordnance Survey claims Google claims the right to use data displayed on Google Maps, a right the OS doesn’t want to grant, according to a blog by the Ordnance Survey.

The Ordnance Survey and Google are in ongoing discussions on the issue.