HC Deb 08 March 1993 vol 220 cc661-2
36. Mr. Milligan

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of the civil service is now working on next steps lines.

Mr. Waldegrave

Over half of the civil service is currently working on next steps lines. This will rise to about 60 per cent. in April with the expected launch of a further group of agencies.

Mr. Milligan

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for his reply. Will he please take this opportunity to pay tribute to the work of Ordnance Survey, which employs many of my constituents, for its commitment to customer service and, in particular, for the fact that it has succeeded in computerising 230,000 maps 10 years ahead of schedule?

Mr. Waldegrave

I think that my hon. Friend is entirely right. Ordnance Survey has always been a fine organisation, but it has improved its standards markedly since it became an agency. My hon. Friend is correct in saying that it completed that magnificent programme 10 years ahead of schedule. The nation should be very proud of it.