§ Mr. Ian Stewartasked the Secretary of State for the Environment which county authorities in England are equipped and have agreed to provide archaeological information to the Ordnance Survey after the rundown of its Archaeological Division.
§ Mr. Ian Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland which county authorities in Scotland are equipped and have agreed to provide archaeological information to the Ordnance Survey after the rundown of its Archaeological Division.
§ Mr. Ian Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Wales which county authorities in Wales are equipped and have agreed to provide archaeological information to the Ordnance Survey after the rundown of its Archaeological Division.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettI have been asked to reply to all three Questions.
38 English counties have appointed officers to assist the Ordnance Survey maintain a record of new archaeological sites in the future. Of those nominated, 31 are archaeologists.
In Wales, four counties are making arrangements with archaeological trusts to provide the archaeological information.
In Scotland, although six regional authorities have nominated officers of 444W whom two are archaelogists there are particular difficulties which may need a rather different solution.
The Ordnance Survey plans to improve and extend the new arrangements so that a comprehensive and effective system covers Great Britain by the time the rundown of the present system is completed in 1979.
I will write to the hon. Member giving him the names of the authorities involved so far.