Ordnance Survey – Great Britain's national mapping agency
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Dear Requester
Request for information - FOI12302
Thank you for your e-mail of 10th July 2012.
Ordnance Survey confirms that it does hold some of the information you have requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000, although in some cases an exemption applies, and this is detailed where applicable. Where the information is not held this is also detailed. We respond to each of your questions in turn:
1. A copy of the Ordnance Survey annual report
This information is exemption under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000 'Information accessible to applicant by other means'.
This is because this information is made available free of charge as part of our publication scheme, and can be accessed at this link:
http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/about-us/annual-reports/index.html
2. Your surveying method, equipment, duration etc
This information is exemption under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000 'Information accessible to applicant by other means'.
This is because this information can be located under the title of: 'Surveying the fast-changing landscape' (for current information) at this web link:
http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/about-us/our-history/index.html
Historical methods, equipment etc are detailed in a publication entitled: Ordnance Survey Map Makers to Britain since 1791. You can view this from our website at this link:
http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/docs/ebooks/map-makers-to-britain-since-1791/index.html
3. Your organisation scale, such as how many people work in your organisation.
Currently, 1099 persons work for Ordnance Survey.
Further information about the organisation including roles, responsibilities and our organisational structure can be found at the follow page of our Publication Scheme:
4. How many working sectors are there?
The business operates six business groups. Please see the above link, in response to your question 3, for further information in relation to these groups via our organisational structure.
5. Does your organisation have any research institution etc.
Ordnance Survey has its own in-house Research and Development department.
Further information about education and research at Ordnance Survey is available at this web link:
http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/education-and-research/index.html
6. I want to know how your organisation makes its annual report. This means when your organisation is making their annual report, does your organisation have any plan which shows or includes how your organisation makes the annual report.
Ordnance Survey does not hold a plan detailing how we make our annual report. The function of creating and preparing our annual report is dealt with by our Corporate Office, with staff which are experience is undertaking this task on an annual basis.
However, under our duty to provide advice and assistance (section 16 of the FOIA) we can provide the following general details with regard to the process:
Ordnance Survey Annual Report and Accounts planning starts in February of each year with a series of planning meeting to discuss content and a timetable between the relevant departments: Corporate Office, Finance and Corporate Design and Publishing.
There are a number of procedures laid down by HM Treasury and The Stationary Office (TSO) which details Government publishing requirements which we are required to follow, these can be found at the following external links:
As Ordnance Survey is an independent non-ministerial government department with Executive Agency status operating as a Trading Fund, accountable to Parliament though the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), an account manager from TSO is allocated to ensure that we have complied with all procedures correctly, before allowing us to publish and successfully lay our Annual Report and Accounts before Parliament on a pre-booked date, which must always be, before Parliament goes into summer recess on or around 20 July each year.
Public Interest Test
As the information you have requested has been provided, is not held or has been refused under Section 21 of the FOIA which is an absolute exemption, the public interest is not applicable.
Internal Review
Your enquiry has been processed according to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000. If you are unhappy with our response, you may request an internal review with our FOI Appeals Officer, by contacting them as follows:
FOI Appeals Officer
Customer Service Centre
Ordnance Survey
Adanac Drive
Southampton
SO16 0AS
E-mail: :foi@ordnancesurvey.co.uk
Please include the reference number above. You may request an internal review where you believe Ordnance Survey has:
- Failed to respond to your request within the time limits (normally 20 working days)Failed to tell you whether or not we hold the informationFailed to provide the information you have requestedFailed to explain the reasons for refusing a requestFailed to correctly apply an exemption or exception
The FOI Appeals Officer will not have been involved in the original decision. They will conduct an internal review and will inform you of the outcome of the review normally within 20 working days, but exceptionally within 40 working days, in line with the Information Commissioner's guidance.
The FOI Appeals Officer will either: uphold the original decision, provide additional explanation of the exemption/s applied or release further information, if it is considered appropriate to do so.
Appeal to Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
If following the outcome of the internal review you remain unhappy with our response, you may raise an appeal with the Information Commissioner's Office at:The Case Reception Unit
Customer Service Team
The Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AFE-mail: mail@ico.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone helpline: 0303 123 1113 or 01625 545745 for advice, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
