HL Deb 24 May 1960 vol 223 cc1200-2

2.38 p.m.

EARL FORTESCUE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the increase in motoring and the paucity of accurate and detailed road maps of suitable scale, they will arrange that the Ordnance Survey resume publication of the pre-war O.S. ½ in. layered maps in overlapping sheets.]

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD (EARL WALDEGRAVE)

My Lords, the need for these maps is appreciated, and the current programme of the Ordnance Survey includes the publication of a new series of half-inch maps similar in style to the pre-war series. Following the recommendations of Lord Davidson's Committee the Department has, since the war, given first priority to its large-scale plans, which in some cases are as much as 60 years out of date, and to the revision of its one-inch and quarter-inch series. As a result, with the Department's limited resources, it will be some years before all the sheets of the half-inch series are published.

EARL FORTESCUE

My Lords, I thank the noble Earl for his reply.

LORD REA

My Lords, I understand that Ordnance Survey have a very valuable series of foreign maps. Could these also be made available to the British public?

EARL WALDEGRAVE

Did the noble Lord say foreign maps?

LORD REA

Maps of foreign countries.

EARL WALDEGRAVE

My Lords, I cannot answer that question without notice. I do not know whether they are available or not. I should imagine they are.

LORD REA

I apologise for not having given notice.

EARL HOWE

My Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether he is not aware that the motoring organisations already provide a very fine selection of foreign maps, as well as English ones?

THE EARL OF LUCAN

My Lords, could the noble Earl say whether he has considered the advisability of reintroducing the half-inch map? Most motorists find that the quarter-inch map is quite enough for motoring, and the one-inch map, contoured, is adequate for walking. Would it not be better to confine the resources of Ordnance Survey to those two scales?

EARL WALDEGRAVE

My Lords, the Question was in relation to half-inch maps, and I have just said that we are going to publish a new series of half-inch maps. But the priorities are—nobody is ever quite satisfied where he stands in a queue—that the large-scale maps, the two big maps, 50 inches and 25 inches to one mile, which are seriously out of date, must take priority with our limited resources.

THE EARL OF LUCAN

My Lords, I am sorry that I did not make myself clear. What I was trying to suggest is that the half-inch map is unnecessary.

EARL WALDEGRAVE

My Lords, I do not think I could agree with that.

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