§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Ordnance Survey commercial products have failed to show a profit since the introduction of the Ordnance Survey commercial arm in 1981.
§ Mr. MoynihanWhile recognising the need for a reasonable balance between adequate disclosure and commercial discretion in relation to Ordnance Survey trading activities, I believe that it would not be proper to disclose this information.
§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will instruct the Ordnance Survey not to attempt to influence local authorities against providing map-revision information, which the local authority has itself surveyed, to private sector map-makers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoynihanOrdnance Survey has no interest in the use of surveys made by local authorities provided they are not supplied simultaneously with a copy of an Ordnance Survey map.
§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the competitive consequences of the Ordnance Survey's tax position in relation to the profit it makes from its commercial products.
§ Mr. MoynihanAs a Government Department, all the revenues of Ordnance Survey serve to reduce its net Vote. There can therefore be no direct comparison with the profits made by private sector companies.
§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the practice of the Ordnance Survey with regard to reserving the right to prevent publication of a product by a private sector map-maker if the Ordnance Survey itself markets, or intends to market a competing product; and what assessment he makes of the implications of this practice for fair competition between the Ordnance Survey and private sector map-makers.
§ Mr. MoynihanOrdnance Survey claims only the right given to any copyright owner to protect his work. To waive that right would jeopardise the aim of Ordnance Survey to minimise its call on public funds, as required by Government.
§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if- the commercial arm of Ordnance Survey is automatically provided with confidential information, including the design and print run, of all publications which the private sector map-makers plan to produce based on public sector mapping; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoynihanPrior permission is required from Ordnance Survey before a publisher may use Ordnance
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Name Appointing Authority Place of Residence Mrs. E. Andrews Secretary of State Flash Mr. J. Beadle Derbyshire County Council Derby Councillor R. J. Beaver North-East Derbyshire District Council Stretton Mr. K. Campbell Secretary of State Dore Mr. J. Cant Secretary of State Youlgreave Survey material in a publication. The information is supplied in confidence to the copyright section solely for approval and royalty assessment purposes.
§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the commercial arm of the Ordnance Survey has access to the periodic sales statistics which the private sector map-makers are required to notify to the copyright section of the Ordnance Survey; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoynihanPublishers whose products are based on Ordnance Survey information are required to notify Ordnance Survey of their sales so that the royalties due can be assessed.
§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange for an independent audit of the Ordnance Survey's commercial trading accounts.
§ Mr. MoynihanThe Comptroller and Auditor General is responsible for the audit of the Ordnance Survey's trading accounts.
§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by whom the accountants commissioned to review the Ordnance Survey trading accounts were given their terms of reference, and what factors governed this choice.
§ Mr. MoynihanThe terms of reference for the review of the format and design of the Ordnance Survey trading accounts were agreed by Ministers to ensure that there is no cross-subsidisation of Ordnance Survey's commercial activities from its Exchequer Vote.