HL Deb 14 January 1985 vol 458 cc861-2WA
Lord Shackleton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the digitisation of Ordnance Survey large-scale maps will not be completed before 2015, when the Ordnance Survey and the Ordnance Survey Advisory Board proposed its completion by 2000 and the Select Committee on Science and Technology recommended completion not later than 1994.

Lord Skelmersdale

When considering the proposals to accelerate the Ordnance Survey digital mapping programme, the Government had to balance the currently known requirements for digital data with the national requirement to contain public expenditure.

Lord Shackleton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why their response to recommendation 49 of the Ordnance Survey Review Committee contains no commitment to the digitisation of Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 scale maps, notwithstanding the recommendation of the Select Committee on Science and Technology and the needs of the Ministry of Defence, among others.

Lord Skelmersdale

The study of user needs for digitised Ordnance Survey small-scale maps has been recently completed. A summary and commentary on the study has been prepared and I have placed a copy in the Library. This shows that, although there is some need for 1:50,000-scale digital data, the project would not be self-supporting. However, a further consideration is being given to digitising at this scale and, in particular, discussions are being held with the Ministry of Defence.

Lord Shackleton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the survey of user needs for small-scale digital map data has been completed; whether the results will be published; and when the programme for digitising promised in paragraph 28 of Cmnd. 9320 will be prepared.

Lord Skelmersdale

The study of user needs for small-scale digital map data has been recently completed. A summary and commentary on the study has been prepared and I have placed a copy in the Library. The full report will be published in the next few weeks. Since it has been shown that a small-scale digital programme would not be self-supporting, further consideration is being given to digitising at the small scales.