§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the cost of the annual salaries bill of those civil servants engaged either in full or part-time in the Ordnance Survey for each of the last five years.
§ Mr. HeseltineThe annual salaries bill of those full and part-time civil servants employed by the Ordnance Survey in each of the last five financial years was:
£ 1975–76 14,670,000 1976–77 15,331,000 1977–78 15,658,000 1978–79 15,923,000 1979–80 17,903,000
§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received in connection with the investigation by senior officials in his Department into the possibility of the Ordnance Survey having a more enterprising and independent status outside the Civil Service.
§ Mr. HeseltineI have received between 40 and 50 written representations from Members of Parliament and various in-472W terested organisations and individuals. Their main concerns are with the maintenance of Ordnance Survey standards and with ensuring adequate consultations over any proposed structural changes.
§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff from the Civil Service have been engaged upon Ordnance Survey activities in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. HeseltineThe following numbers of civil servants were employed by the Ordnance Survey at 31 March in each of the five years shown:
1976 4,443 1977 4,173 1978 3,804 1979 3,630 1980 3,467
§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report the annual cost for each of the last five years of pensions awarded to former civil servants engaged on Ordnance Survey.
§ Mr. HeseltinePensions awarded to former civil servants are paid from the vote for civil superannuation, and I am advised that payments in respect of those who have been employed in a particular Government Department are not readily identifiable.
§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department's officials are examining from amongst the other EEC countries alternative methods of financing the Ordnance Survey.
§ Mr. HeseltineYes. In addition to the opportunity afforded through meetings of the Heads of European national mapping agencies for consideration of this matter, my officials have the benefit of the evidence collected by the Ordnance Survey review committee about how 12 other countries meet and finance their surveying and mapping requirements and referred to in paragraph 7 of the foreword to the committee's report published in October 1979.
§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the cost to the Exchequer of providing the Ordnance Survey service within the public sector in each of the last five years.
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§ Mr. HeseltineExcluding the cost of payments borne on the Civil Superannuation Etc. Vote, the following were
1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 £s Gross cost … … 21,577,000 21,719,000 21,429,000 22,483,000 25,665,000 Receipts … … 7,853,000 9,449,000 10,568,000 11,943,000 14,552,000 Net cost … … 13,724,000 12,270,000 10,861,000 10,540,000 11,113,000