Maps Sales by Popularity

Dear Requester

Request for information - FOI12329

Thank you for your letter dated 29^th September 2012, requesting the following information from Ordnance Survey in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000:

 ‘Can you please send me free of charge your business report for year 2011 including balance sheet and adjusted reports.

And a list of the best sold maps in the UK and their numbers and turnover.’

I confirm that Ordnance Survey does hold the information you are requesting.

Please find enclosed with this letter of response, a copy of our Annual Report for the 2011-2012 financial year, which includes the statements of our accounts, in response to your first point.

In response to your second point, we are pleased to provide to you details of our top ten best-selling Ordnance Survey paper maps, these are detailed below:

You have also requested the quantity of these maps sold and their turnover. This information is exempt from disclosure under two exemptions as set out in the FOIA: Section 43 ‘Commercial Interest’ and Section 36 ‘Prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs’.

Section 43 (2) - Commercial Interests
Ordnance Survey, whilst being an Executive Agency, has trading fund status which means that it is required by Statute to fund all of its operations, investments and financial obligations to the British Government from the revenue it generates from licensing the Intellectual Property in its data and from sales of paper mapping.  Ordnance Survey must therefore protect its commercial interests

Ordnance Survey also competes in commercial markets, in this instance the paper map market. There are a number of competitors within this market, and the release of this information detailing the number of individually titled Ordnance Survey maps sold, and the turnover of these individual map titles which provides information on our sales terms would potentially lead to distortion of the marketplace, contrary to UK Competition Law.

This, combined with recent changes to our license model, which allows other organisations to access and resell our small scale mapping data, would potentially create anomalies in the market place again contrary to UK Competition Law.

Section 36 - Prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs
Prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs refers to the adverse effect of our ability to offer an effective public service or meet our wider objective or purpose.

To make map popularity information available at individual sheet level and provide turnover information, would, potentially undermine the viability of specific map sheets and also question the sustainability of the national mapping series which Ordnance Survey as the National Mapping Agency of Great Britain, is required to publish.

Public Interest
Section 43 (2) and Section 36 (2) (c) of the FOIA are both qualified exemptions and we are required to consider the public interest in both cases.

Section 43 (2)
We are aware there is general public interest for disclosure of information under accountability and transparency, but this has to be balanced against the factors allowing organisations to be able to conduct their business fairly and with integrity.

We have determined there is public interest in ensuring businesses are not damaged or undermined by the disclosure of information which is not common knowledge, and which could adversely impact from a commercial perspective.

We have also given thought to the necessity for Ordnance Survey to compete fairly and not provide an unfair commercial advantage to others, or place ourselves at a commercial disadvantage by the release of the information.

Section 36 (2) (c)
When applying section 36 it usually requires consultation with the ‘qualified person’. However, as this exemption is being engaged for statistical information, it is not necessary on this occasion.

As the National Mapping Agency of Great Britain, it is within Ordnance Surveys remit to create, maintain and disseminate consistent, definitive and authoritative geospatial and cartographic data and products of Great Britain in the national interest.

Our public task statement confirms the national and therefore public interest for consistent and definitive mapping of Great Britain.  As our mapping is used in emergency situations by organisations such as UK security, defence and civil contingency bodies and by our Mapping for Emergencies services,  we also note the public interest in favour of Ordnance Survey being able to produce mapping of the entire country for this purpose, as and if required.

Disclosure of the information regarding paper mapping sales and turnover could affect the ability for Ordnance Survey to produce a full series of titles as previously specified.

Having considered these grounds, we have determined, overall the greater public interest lies in favour of withholding the information you have requested; and we will not be releasing this information to you.

Section 16 – Advice and Assistance
Whilst we have refused to provide to you the turnover and sales for individual map titles, we draw your attention to page 84 of the annual report enclosed with this response.  On this page you will find trading revenue for paper maps as a whole.

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 Internal Review Officer, by contacting them as follows:

FOI Internal Review  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 information

•           Failed to provide the information you have requested

•           Failed to explain the reasons for refusing a request

•           Failed to correctly apply an exemption or exception

The FOI Internal Review 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 Internal Review 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 5AF

E-mail: mail@ico.gsi.gov.uk

Telephone helpline: 0303 123 1113 or 01625 545745 for advice, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

Thank you for your enquiry.