HC Deb 21 May 1997 vol 294 cc85-6W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to mark urban commons as such on Ordnance Survey maps. [260]

Mr. Raynsford

The recording of information in Ordnance Survey's National Topographic Database and its depiction on maps at various scales are primarily a matter of resources. Funding to collect, store and disseminate information comes from two sources—commercial sales of OS products and from government funding for those OS activities which are judged to be in the national interest. Discussions are currently underway on the funding of a National Interest in Mapping Service Agreement (NIMSA) and the Ordnance Survey activities to be covered by it. I have ensured that the question of recording urban commons is included in the considerations. A decision on NIMSA is expected to be taken by Ministers later in the year.

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