§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will extend beyond 28 November the closing date for comments on the report of the Ordnance Survey review committee, to allow sufficient time for the study of the report by private enterprise surveying companies.
§ Mr. KingI would not wish to extend the time for consultation bearing in mind the ample opportunity made for evidence to be given to the review committee.
The committee invited evidence during February 1978 with a deadline for comment of 31 May 1978. In practice it continued to accept evidence for many months thereafter. Moreover, throughout 1978 the committee wrote to almost 100 bodies asking for their views on specific issues. There was therefore a most extensive consultative process. To extend the period for comments on the report beyond the end of November would involve the risk of repeating much of the work that the committee itself undertook. Moreover, it would inevitably delay the Government's own conclusions, which need to be reached as soon as possible so that decisions can be taken on relevant management issues.