§ 20. Brigadier-General NATIONasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that there is a considerable shortage of up-to-date ordnance survey maps on. a scale of 25 inches to a mile, the scale used as the basis of English land tenure, local government, regional planning, land drainage, etc.; that for many municipal areas the only maps available are over 20 years old; and will he state what steps he is taking, or proposes to take, to remedy the defect?
§ Major ELLIOTSince the War, the staff of the Ordnance Survey Department has been reduced by about one-half, on grounds of economy, and the period between revision of the maps referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend has had consequently to be lengthened. I realise, and will continue to bear in mind, the desirability of more frequent revision, but the question is governed primarily by financial considerations, and I regret that at the present time, in prevailing circumstances, I cannot hold out any hope of an increase in the size of the survey staff.