A Sussex MP is spearheading the information revolution.

Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude has unveiled a scheme to lay bare information about the performance of schools, GPs, hospitals, police, courts and prisons.

The Horsham MP said the plans include a website for parents which will bring up a range of schools information in each postcode.

He said that under the open data plan, the NHS will publish complaints categorised by hospital, GPs will publish more details of their prescribing practices and criminal courts will publish what sentences they have handed down, including details of the defendants’ age and gender but not their names.

Mr Maude said: “The new commitments represent a quantum leap in Government transparency and will radically help to drive better public services.”

Greg Hadfield, founder of the Open Data Brighton and Hove group, and director of strategic projects at digital agency Cogapp in Dyke Road, said it is impossible to underestimate the importance of the new development.

He said: “This is historic. Massive credit must go to Francis Maude for championing the open data cause. Now the focus must be on local political and business leaders to keep up the momentum.”

Jason Kitcat, cabinet member for finance and central services at Brighton and Hove City Council, said the new Green administration is committed to the principles of open data.

He said: “National Government has been working on this longer than us but we do want to open up our databases.

“There is a lot of information on our website about planning and licensing applications and we need to make this more accessible. We can provide the data but it will be for journalists and academics to interpret it.”