§ EARL FORTESCUEMy 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 they have any progress to report in the production of half-inch Ordnance Survey Maps.]
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, there is little I can add to the reply given when the noble Earl raised this subject in December, 1961. The Government reluctantly decided that, with the resources available, it is not practicable to continue the production of the Ordnance Survey half-inch maps as a standard series covering the whole country. The production of maps at this scale is therefore to be limited to areas of particular interest, such as those of Greater London and of Snowdonia. Only five sheets in the original half-inch series have been published.
§ EARL FORTESCUEMy Lords, may I ask a supplementary question? Is the Minister aware that nothing of a smaller scale than one-inch can be regarded as anything like accurate, and that motorists are now drifting around the country depending solely on signposts?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, I hasten to inform my noble friend that he is not quite accurate, because there are series published in a quarter-inch scale and also one-tenth of an inch scale.
§ LORD WILMOT OF SELMESTONMy Lords, may I take it from the noble Lord's Answer that the maps he has mentioned will be continued?
EARL FERRERSYes, my Lords; they will be continued. The point is that the half-inch maps have not found a great sale or a ready use and, therefore, they have been discontinued.
§ EARL FORTESCUEMy Lords, may I suggest that if it were a complete series it might be found that there was a great demand for it?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, as my noble friend must be aware, the resources of the Ordnance Survey Department are limited. It has been considered that they would best be used by being employed on maps which are of more public use than on those which have a very limited value.