HC Deb 11 May 1972 vol 836 cc426-7W
Sir Bernard Braine

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has for increased participation by British private mapping companies in the mapping and survey work for developing countries at present carried out mainly by the Directorate of Overseas Surveys.

Mr. Wood:

I have recently reviewed the respective roles of the public and private sectors in carrying out survey and mapping projects under the Aid Programme. This work is at present largely done by the Directorate of Overseas Surveys, which is within my Department, but part of the work, including all the aerial photography and some mapping work, is put out to competitive tender.

I have decided that in future the private sector should have greater opportunities to take on some of this work. The mapping capacity of the Directorate, particularly in the spheres of instrumental plotting and cartography, will therefore be reduced progressively over the next two years. An increasing proportion of this work will be offered to the private sector. This is expected to lead to a reduction of 118 posts in the non-industrial staff of the Directorate by April, 1974: details of how the reduction would apply will be discussed as appropriate with the Staff Side.

There will shortly be meetings with representatives of the private mapping companies in order to discuss the new arrangements with them. The situation will be reviewed not later than April, 1977, but I will look at the position in the middle of 1975 to see if the date of the review could usefully be brought forward.

The Directorate of Overseas Surveys has an international reputation for the quality and integrity of its mapping work and I have decided that it will be maintained as a viable organisation at least until April, 1979.