Our reference F0003867

Paul Hollinghurst

via email address:

[FOI #34826 email]

14 June 2010

Dear Mr Hollinghurst,

Thank you for your email of 14 May 2010, which we received on 17 May, in which you requested copies of minutes for any meetings which considered whether 1:25000 and 1:50 000 mapping should be included in OS OpenData.

Your request has been considered under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I am writing to advise you that, following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the specific information you requested is not held by this Department.

However, the information that you wish to obtain may already be in the public domain. The Government's Response to the consultation: Policy options for geographic information from Ordnance Survey set out in detail the reasoning for changes to the final OS OpenData product set. Relevant excerpts from this Response document have been copied below for your convenience.

The replacement of 1:25 000 and 1:50 000 Scale Colour Raster products with OS VectorMap District. This dataset is a new product within the OS VectorMap family and is available in both raster and vector formats. It is designed to be a flexible and customisable product specifically designed for use on the web. It will enable developers to select, customise and modify maps to their specific requirements. This change addresses two concerns expressed by respondents about both the inclusion of 1:25 000 and 1:50 000 raster products. These were the potential damage to the national coverage of Ordnance Survey Landranger and Explorer paper maps and the absence of a mid-scale vector product to enable further innovation by developers. The changes will therefore increase the economic benefit of OS OpenData.

and

The modifications to the data to be released have been made in order to:

• meet the most important needs identified by consultation respondents

• maximise the ability to make best use of other public data released under the Making Public Data Public initiative

• reduce the impact on existing market participants, in light of consultation feedback

• ensure that core reference information is freely available while protecting the ability of all market participants, including the Ordnance Survey, to add value

• ensure that Ordnance Survey continues to provide high-quality products and services to those customers, including government, who need them

• ensure the sustainability of Ordnance Survey paper maps

• meet affordability criteria; and

• ensure a sustainable business model for Ordnance Survey.

The full Government response to the consultation can be found at the link below:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/corporate/pdf/1528263.pdf

Communities and Local Government as an organisation aims to be as helpful as possible in the way it deals with requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. If, however, you are not satisfied with the way in which your request has been handled or the outcome, you may request an internal review within two calendar months of the date of this letter. Information about the Department's review procedures and how to apply for an internal review of your case is contained on the Department's website at http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/corporate/pdf/1384250.pdf]. This also explains your right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision in the event that you remain dissatisfied following the Department's review.

Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted this Department's Internal Review procedure. The Information Commissioner`s address and contact details are set out in the above leaflet.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Yours sincerely

Patricia Wapples