HC Deb 18 November 1987 vol 122 cc568-70W
Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why the independent accountants who were commissioned to review the Ordnance Survey trading accounts did not investigate any specific Ordnance Survey commercial products to prove or disprove unfair trading.

Mr. Moynihan

The study was commissioned to review the format and design of the Ordnance Survey trading accounts and did not attempt to conduct an audit of the accounts, which is the responsibility of the National Audit Office.

Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the costings for the Temple Press/Ordnance Survey "Motoring Atlas of Great Britain" included the cost of drawing the maps which were used in the atlas; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Moynihan

Ordnance Survey follow the guidelines for OS commercial activities published in July 1984, and all appropriate costs are taken into account.

Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the publisher Newnes Books was required to pay any category A royalty for the "ABC London Street Atlas" which it published jointly with the Ordnance Survey ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Moynihan

In line with other co-publication projects, the appropriate copyright royalty for maps in the product are charged in full as a cost against the revenue which OS and the co-publisher derive from sales. This cost is taken into account when assessing the viability of any co-publication proposal prior to proceeding.

The "ABC London Street Atlas" published in 1984 was compiled from a variety of base mapping at small and large scales to a new specification. Accordingly, in line with copyright practice at that time, category B rates were applied when assessing the product for royalty. This is the rate usually charged to such products and that which applies to the majority of competitors' publications in this field which are based on OS map material.

Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the cost of advertising Ordnance Survey commercial publication, in particular when the commercial publications is advertised together with Ordnance Survey public funded publications, is paid from public funds ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Moynihan

Ordnance Survey's advertising campaigns are almost all related to its range of small scales and related products which have a broad market appeal that warrant national promotion. The cost of these campaigns is allocated to the relevant product series including core products whether advertised individually or alongside commercial ones, and recovered in accordance with agreed financial targets.

Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what payment is made to the Exchequer by those publishing houses who are allowed to use the name Ordnance Survey and to use the Ordnance Survey logo on products which they publish jointly with the Ordnance Survey.

Mr. Moynihan

The goodwill associated with the Ordnance Survey name and logo is recognised in any negotiation with a publishing house on a joint venture proposal. When considering partnership Ordnance Survey is looking not only at the financial soundness of the project but also at unquantified benefits in editorial design, marketing and selling skills that the proposed partner will bring to the venture.