§ Mr. Wolfsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the report of the independent inquiry by Peat, Marwick and Mitchell into the competitive practices of the Ordnance Survey will be available to him; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Waldegrave[pursuant to his reply, 14 December 1984, c. 655]: Its report has recently been received and is now being considered both by the director general of the Ordnance Survey and by myself.
The report follows the announcement in January of this year by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment that the annual trading accounts for the Ordnance Survey, including statements on revenue and expenditure by main product groups, would be published, and that the basis of these accounts would be independently reviewed by commercial auditors. This will help to ensure that there is no cross subsidisation of Ordnance Survey's commercial activities from its Exchequer Vote.
269WIt is intended that an executive summary of the report will be published.
§ Mr. Wolfsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what net profit has accrued to the Ordnance Survey from the sales of new atlases, town plans and guide books.
§ Mr. Waldegrave[pursuant to his reply, 14 December 1984, c. 655]: Whilst recognising the need for a reasonable balance between adequate disclosure and commercial discretion in relation to Ordnance Survey trading activities, I believe that it would not be proper to disclose this commercially sensitive information.
§ Mr. Wolfsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the independent report into the competitive position of the Ordnance Survey joint publishing activities has been submitted to the Ordnance Survey management rather than to him direct.
§ Mr. Waldegrave[pursuant to his reply, 14 December 1984, c. 656]: The report has been submitted to the director general, Ordnance Survey, and through him to me.