§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, concerning 394W the surveys for compiling grid references for post codes, (a) how many people were employed in this work and for how long on average, (b) whether there was a Government subsidy to the research companies carrying out this work, and what form it took, (c) what criteria there were for the employment of persons engaged in the survey, and (d) how many would otherwise have been on unemployment registers.
§ Mr. HoramThe total estimated cost of this work, which has not yet been completed, was given in answer to the hon. Member's Question on this subject, and the breakdown of that total to the nearest £1,000 by road construction unit area is:
£ North Western 24,000 North Eastern 25,000 South Western 25,000 Midland 26,000 Eastern 30,000 South Eastern 30,000
§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total cost incurred for Ordnance Survey gridding of all post codes expressed for each road construction unit area.
§ Mr. HoramApproximately 230 people were employed on compiling Ordnance Survey grid references of post code areas for a period of three to four months. The exact number of people concerned is not readily available and would require detailed analysis of work records.
The work was carried out on behalf of the Secretary of State by transportation consultants commissioned by him. No Government subsidy was involved.
The criteria for the temporary staff employed by the consultants were those usual for general clerical work.
The people employed were either on the unemployment registers, casual or part-time workers. My right hon. Friend has no means of knowing how many would otherwise have remained on the register.