MR. PAGETasked the First Commissioner of Works, When the Revised Ordnance Survey for the county of Somerset will be completed and available for general use; by what date the whole of the Revised Ordnance Survey of the United Kingdom will be completed if the work be continued at the same rate of progress as at present; what would be the shortest time in which the Survey could be completed if sufficient funds were forthcoming for that purpose; and, what is the estimated sum of money required for such conpletion?
§ MR. GERARD NOEL,in reply, said, he would read the following communication, which he had received from the Director of the Ordnance Survey in regard to points on which the hon. Member desired information:—
The survey of Somersetshire according to present arrangements will not be completed in less than 15 years, excepting the northern portion of the county, which as it contains part of the Bristol coal-field will have precedence, and will probably be completed and available for general use in six or eight years. I estimate that it will take from 18 to 20 years to complete the cadastral survey of England and Wales. The time in which the survey could be completed might probably be reduced to 16 years by increasing the annual Votes for the survey; but this course does not seem desirable, since we cannot obtain trained surveyors, draughtsmen, and engineers from outside, and there would be an additional expense incurred in training new men. The probable cost is estimated at from £1,800,000 to £2,000,000.