asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether the public office of the Ordnance Survey Agency in Belfast was closed on the afternoon of Friday 8 December; if so, why; and what notice was given to potential users. [HL777]

The public office of the Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland® (OSNI®), Colby House, Belfast was closed on the afternoon of Friday 8 December 2006 due to the authorised absence of the three members of Ordnance Survey staff trained to work in that area. A notice informing customers of the closure was placed in a prominent position at the entrance to Colby House on Tuesday 28 November 2006 and remained in position until Monday 11 December. In addition to advising customers of the closure, the notice informed customers of other outlets for OSNI’s ACEmap® product (Craigavon, Armagh, Lisburn and North Down council offices) and the facility to purchase ACEmaps and other OSNI products via the OSNI website at www.osni.gov.uk.