Committee Reports::Interim and Final Report - Appropriation Accounts 1959 - 1960::02 November, 1960::Appendix

APPENDIX VII.

SALES OF ORDNANCE SURVEY MAPS.

Chairman,


Committee of Public Accounts.


I am afraid that when I appeared before your Committee on last Thursday, 10th November, I gave an inadequate reply to Deputy Sheldon’s request for an explanation of the discrepancy between the figure of £2,899 at 1 (ii) of the realised Appropriations in Aid of Vote 22 (Stationery Office), 1959—60, and the figure of £8,980 at item 1 of the Appropriations in Aid of Vote 24 (Ordnance Survey) for the same year. You will recall that I adverted only to the fact that Messrs. Hodges Figgis and Co. Ltd., and Messrs. Eason and Son Ltd., were agents for the sale of Ordnance Survey maps in addition to the Government Publications Office.


The following particulars will give the full pattern of Ordnance Survey map sales in the financial year 1959—60:


 

£

Receipts from Government Publications Sale Office

...

...

1,712

      „ „      Hodges Figgis and Co. Ltd.

...

...

...

...

137

      „ „      Eason and Son Ltd.

...

...

...

...

...

128

      „ „      direct sales by Ordnance Survey Office (including

£359 per Valuation Office)


...

...

...

3,960

      , „      other Agents

...

...

...

...

...

...

993

      „ „      Traders (approximate number—250)

...

...

1,450

Total Sales

...

...

...

...

8,380

Add: Royalty Fees

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

443

 Map Mounting Services

...

...

...

...

...

130

 Miscellaneous Receipts pertaining to Maps

...

...

...

27

Appropriation in Aid

...

...

...

8,980

The names of the other agents are set out on page 3 of the Ordnance Survey Small Scales Catalogue, of which I enclose a copy.*


The difference between the £1,712 shown in the above table and the £2,899 referred to in the Deputy’s query is explained by the application of a discount (33⅓% as from 1st April, 1959) to all Ordnance Survey maps issued to the Government Publications Sale Office for resale.


These figures are, of course, exclusive of the maps (face value £19,894 vid. table in Appendix A, p. 51) supplied to public departments. If these supplies were subject to repayment to Vote 24, the total sales of Ordnance Survey maps in the year would be £28,274, and the Appropriation in Aid, item 1 (inclusive of special services) would be £29,670.


I regret any misunderstanding I may have caused by not adverting to the existence of agents outside Dublin, or to the appreciable proceeds from direct sales and direct dealings with small traders.


(Signed) J. MOONEY,


Director of Ordnance Survey.


17 Samhain, 1960.


* Note.—A copy of the Catalogue of Small Scale Maps and Charts, and of a Supplement thereto has been furnished to the Committee.