Transfer of Print Operations

1. Can you give details of how many OS printing staff there were before the transfer, how many were put at risk of redundancy when the tender was announced, how many (if any) subsequently took redundancy and how many (if any) were transferred by TUPE to Butler, Tanner & Dennis?

2. Are you able to say why and when typography on OS map covers was changed from Arial to Helvetica? Was it related (directly or indirectly) to the transfer of printing location?

( From my investigations it appears that Tour [12] Scotland edn., published in March 2010, was the first cover to carry the new typography, and that it was applied to OS Explorer Map covers published from the end of September 2010 onwards, and to OS Landranger Map covers published from Feb/Mar 2011. Are you able to concur with my observations? )

3. With reference to your response about the modification of printing details on the maps and covers themselves, I am looking for a more definite way of ascertaining whether a map has been printed by BTD or not. Thus can I ask whether it is safe to assume:

- That all map covers with your new address (Adanac Drive) have been printed by BTD?

- And likewise that all covers with the old address (Romsey Road) were printed in house by OS?

- That all map sheets printed with "...CSC, OS, Romsey Road..." in the legend panel were printed in house by OS?

- And likewise that all map sheets printed omitting mention of "Romsey Road" in the legend panel have been printed by BTD?

4. With regards to the transfer of printing, what was the situation as regards assembly of the map sheets and covers to create the finished product? Was there any transfer of map sheets and/or covers between OS and BTD during the transitional phase or subsequently to create finished maps?

Possible examples:

- Stocks of a map sheet printed by OS, sent to BTD for assembly with covers printed by BTD.

- Stocks of a map cover printed by OS, sent to BTD for assembly with sheets printed by BTD.

- Stocks of a map cover and sheet printed by OS, sent to BTD for assembly.

Or was it the case that only those map sheets and covers printed in each location were assembled at the same location?

5. Could you provide a little more detail of the first and last printings by BTD/OS respectively?: *Details I am interested in are: Series, sheet number, and number of copies printed.

a.The date and details* of the last map sheet printing undertaken by OS in house

b.The date and details* of the last map cover printing undertaken by OS in house

c.The date and details* of the first map sheet printing undertaken by BTD

d.The date and details* of the first map cover printing undertaken by BTD

Thank you for your e-mail dated 4^th May 2011. I confirm that Ordnance Survey does hold the information you have requested, and we respond to each of your questions in turn below:

1. The jobs of all 27 of our staff who were working in our Print area were transferred to Butler, Tanner and Dennis (BTD) and under the TUPE law they could all have transferred to BTD on their existing terms and conditions.

Therefore, they were not at risk of redundancy and none of them were made compulsory redundant. However, the staff chose not to transfer and either opted for voluntary redundancy or were redeployed into other roles in Ordnance Survey.

2. The new templates containing Helvetica font for OS Explorer Maps came into use when we switched our printing to BTD. As you have noted, the OS Landranger Maps with revised fonts started later.

The opportunity to switch from Arial to Helvetica was made at this time to match our current corporate font.

The Tour cover fonts were amended prior to the OS Explorer Maps, when we stopped using the numbers on the Tour map covers and new cover ‘masters’ were created.

3. This is a correct assumption to make.

4. To ensure a smooth change over and minimum disruption to stock levels some titles were produced collaboratively, with printing taking place at Ordnance Survey and finishing at BTD.

5a.OS Landranger Map 196 - Quantity printed 3000

5b. OS Explorer Map 278 - Quantity printed 9800

5c. OS Landranger Map 152 - Quantity printed 2640

5d. The following covers were the first ones printed by BTD, on the same block, with the quantity printed in the right hand column:

Your enquiry has been processed according to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000. As all the requested information has been provided, we have determined that in all the circumstances of this case the Public interest consideration (section 17 FOIA) is not applicable in this instance.

If you are unhappy with our response, you may raise an appeal to our Appeals Officer at:

FOI Appeals Officer
Customer Service Centre
Ordnance Survey
Adanac Drive
SOUTHAMPTON
SO16 0AS

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: FOI11159/May 2011