§ 28. Mr. Hirstasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that there is fair competition between the commercial operations of Ordnance Survey and the private sector map publishers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveYes, Sir.
§ Mr. HirstIs my hon. Friend aware of the concern among private sector map producers about what they believe to be unfair competition from the Ordnance Survey? Can he confirm that an independent review will take place of the joint venture publishing enterprises in which the Ordnance Survey is a partner? Will that independent review take evidence from the private sector map publishers?
§ Mr. WaldegraveI met a delegation of independent map makers, with colleagues in the House, recently—
§ Mr. Flanneryrose—
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Flannery.
§ Mr. FlanneryIs it not a fact that the passion for privatisation by this Government—
§ Mr. Waldegraverose—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I thought that the Minister had finished. I apologise.
§ Mr. FlanneryThe Minister is such a master of the monosyllable that we do not know when he is finished.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI was telling my hon. Friend the Member for Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Mr. Hirst) that we had recently received a delegation. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State proposes to publish guidelines on the commercial activities of the Ordnance Survey. I hope that that will help the independent map makers. I have recently asked the director general of the Ordnance Survey to call in outside accountants to examine internal accountancy and management procedures, to ensure that there is no cross-subsidisation between commercial and other activities. I hope that that will help to still the doubts to which my hon. Friend referred.
§ Mr. FlanneryWill the Minister accept that his constant monosyllabic answers leave the Chamber with the same lack of knowledge that is had before the question was 883 answered? Will the Government's passion for privatisation destroy the Ordnance Survey, which was doing a wonderful job long before this Government came about? In heaven's name, why are they altering the Ordnance Survey, which was acceptable to everybody except those who wanted to make profit out of privatisation?
§ Mr. WaldegraveI can only assume that the hon. Gentleman—who does not like short questions or short answers—missed the recent announcement that there would be no change in the status of the Ordnance Survey. It has done excellent work for many years and will continue to do so for many years. If the hon. Gentleman reads my right hon. Friend's statement on the matter recently, he will be the wiser.