HC Deb 15 May 1972 vol 837 cc28-9
36. Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future work of the Directorate of Overseas Surveys.

Mr. Kershaw

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Essex, South-East (Sir Bernard Braine) on 11th May.—[Vol. 836, c. 426–7.]

Mr. Spearing

Does the hon. Gentleman recognise that the running-down of the Directorate of Overseas Surveys by up to one-third of its staff and the transfer of these services to private enterprise will not only cause a great shock among those who support aid services in Britain but will also bring, the Government in for a great deal of criticism? What are the criteria which will be applied to determine which work will stay with the directorate and which will go to private enterprise? Why are not the Government saying that the directorate will remain in operation after 1979?

Mr. Kershaw

The decision to alter the rôle of the Directorate of Overseas Surveys was taken in pursuance of the Government's policy not to undertake directly within the central Government activities which can be handled outside. We appreciate that a certain amount of anxiety is caused to the staff, but they will bear in mind that this work will go on at least until 1979 and we have been very impressed by the responsible attitude shown by the staff. We hope that redundancy will be avoided so far as possible by normal staff reductions.

Mrs. Hart

Why was it thought appropriate to make this announcement in a Written Answer in the light of the fact that this is one of the minor but very significant bits of hiving-off of the Tory Government? Will the hon. Gentleman confirm that what his right hon. Friend has very clearly in mind is that it is the profitable parts which are to be hived off leaving the unprofitable part with the directorate?

Mr. Kershaw

My right hon. Friend was conscious that the decision and the report had been rather long delayed and he was, therefore, anxious that a decision should be given. That is why it has been done in this way. The question of what part will be hived off and what part will not be depends to what extent we find that private mapping resources are capable of undertaking the work which is given to them.