§ 74. Colonel RUGGLES-BRISEasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that a large number of ordnance survey maps are seriously out of date, there having been no revision in some cases for over 20 years, and in others for over 40 years; whether he is aware 548 that, in consequence, considerable difficulty and expense is entailed in the preparation of maps for schemes under the Town Planning and Town and Country Planning Acts; and whether, seeing that the longer revision is postponed the greater the ultimate cost of bringing these maps up to date, he will take steps to expedite revision?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI fully realise the desirability of a more frequent revision of the Ordnance Survey maps, but the matter is governed primarily by financial considerations, and I cannot say at present when it will be possible to take the necessary steps to expedite revision. The matter will, however, continue to receive my close attention.
§ Colonel RUGGLES-BRISEDoes my right hon. Friend realise that there are very few ordnance maps which show any such developments as arterial roads and new by-pass roads?
§ Sir J. NALLIs the revision proceeding on settled plans so that people may know when the revision will take place?
§ Mr. ELLIOTIt is governed primarily by the financial needs of the time.
§ Mr. CRAVEN-ELLISDoes the right hon. Gentleman appreciate the fact that these ordnance maps are out of date, that their sale is not as great as it would be if they were up to date, and that if they were up to date a profit could be made?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThat is a matter of opinion, but I realise that it is a valuable asset that is wasting owing to the lack of revision that is going on.