§ Mr. John Pageasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what authority he has given to the Ordnance Survey to change the scale of its maps from traditional to metric measurement; what the cost of such a change would be; and whether he will leave a final decision until after the publication of the White Paper on Metrication.
§ Mr. Michael HeseltineThe Ordnance Survey has used metric measurements450W for surveying for many years and the National Grid has been metric since about 1940. Following a Government decision in 1969 all Ordnance Survey maps at scales of 1:10,000—approximately six inches to one mile—and larger are now being produced in metric form. Only in one case, the 1:10,000 series, has the scale been changed. The cost of metrication cannot be isolated from the cost of other changes which are being made in design and method. The Survey will shortly be sending my right hon. Friend proposals for metrication of the one-inch map.