Availability of OSGM05

Reference number: 71858/September 2009.

1. Reference the above are you still unable to provide any information on availability of OSGM05?

2. As a supplementary question could you please confirm the total costs involved in generating OSGM05 and when the benefits of this expenditure will be made available and used by all rather than just a selective few academic researchers? To date there are examples of the results being quoted in a number of published papers with no acknowledgement of the data even being OS Copyright.

3. I have attempted to get some technical questions on systematic and gross errors in UK levelling answered by a member of your technical staff but have had no response or acknowledgement of my emails. Can you confirm, what is the policy of the Ordnance Survey to technical questions?

Thank you for your e-mail dated 8^th July 2010. We are pleased to provide you with the following information with regard to your request. Please be aware that not all the information Ordnance Survey holds has been provided, as parts of it fall under an exemption of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

1. Ordnance Survey would expect a launch date of early 2011 for the new OSGM model. This date will align with the new national definition of ETRS89 which has been recently ratified by the EUREF organisation.

Ordnance Survey is currently finalising the OSGM model with our contractors, and we are looking as ways to launch the new model to reach the maximum audience.

2. Ordnance Survey does hold this information, however, this falls within the Commercial Interests exemption under section 43 (2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

We believe this exemption applies, because Ordnance Survey has a commercial contract with a third party to develop the new OSGM model, and the release of the information you have requested could affect the commercial interests of the organisation holding this contract.

Ordnance Survey operates in a competitive market, where more and more companies and public services are using computer based GIS (Geographic Information Systems). It is our belief, that information about the total costs involved and the benefits of expenditure would be commercially sensitive to Ordnance Survey. This information could give other organisations an advantage by having knowledge of the research (benefits) or costs analysis Ordnance Survey has already undertaken.

3.  Ordnance Survey will wherever possible answer technical questions, but does not have a policy in relation to answering such specific questions.

Requests that are made to Ordnance Survey through our Customer Service Centre are subject to time compliance. You can view more about our Customer Service Centre operations on the following link to the Ordnance Survey website:

http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/aboutus/servingyou/

Requests made to Ordnance Survey under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), will be addressed within the specified timescales which is twenty working days, unless there is a complex public interest test to consider, and the deadline for a response may then be extended in these instances.

To the extent that the Public interest test applies (section 17 FOIA), we have determined that in the circumstances of question 2 above, the public interest in disclosure of the information does not outweigh that of withholding the information at this time, and explain our reasons for refusing to disclose this information above.

Please note that your enquiry has been processed according to the Freedom of Act 2000. If you are unhappy with our response, you may raise an appeal to our Appeals Officer at:

Complaints Team

Customer Service Centre

Ordnance Survey

Romsey Road

SOUTHAMPTON

SO16 4GU

Please include the reference number below. The Appeals Officer will ensure that the process has been followed correctly, questioning any decisions taken regarding the original response and recommending disclosure of additional information if appropriate.

Thank you for your enquiry.

Reference number: FOI1083/July 2010