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2025.02.04
Deputy A.F. Curtis of St. Clement of the Minister for Infrastructure regarding changes to the contacts for the sale of Government mapping data (OQ.28/2025):
Further to Oral Question 100/2024, will the Minister advise whether any changes to the contracts for the sale of Government mapping data have occurred since January 2024, and when the contracts for the 2 current providers expire?
Connétable A.N. Jehan of St. John (The Minister for Infrastructure):
I thank the Deputy for his question. I can inform Members that the Geospatial Board agreed on 7th March 2024 to a further 12-month contract extension in line with clause 50.1 of the current business partner mapping contracts. The contracts for the 2 current partners have, therefore, now been extended to expire on 31st October 2026. Ideally, I would have been able to provide this information to the Deputy when he asked his question in May 2024. I should also inform the Deputy and Members that Ministerial responsibility for this subject is due to be transferred back to the Minister for the Environment in the coming weeks.
- Deputy A.F. Curtis :
Will the Minister, before he hands that power back, commit from his side not to renew such contracts again until a broader review and consultation of the commercial model for data is agreed, as we discussed back in 2024?
The Connétable of St. John :
The contract does not allow for it to be extended any further. So it has been extended to the furthest point back in March and cannot be further extended.
- Deputy T.A. Coles of St. Helier South :
Does the Minister think that the charges made for accessing this public data are fair and reasonable?
The Connétable of St. John :
I think I have answered this question before. The mapping information is available free of charge for the public online and at the library, but there are commercial benefits to using this and I think before any new contract is entered into the whole framework will need to be reviewed.
- Deputy J. Renouf of St. Brelade :
Just listening to the careful wording of the Minister there, can he confirm that the renewal of this contract happened without his notice, without him being involved?
The Connétable of St. John : That is the case.
- Deputy J. Renouf :
Therefore, when he gave the answer earlier, last year, to Deputy Curtis on this matter, was he not informed at that point by officers that the contract had been renewed?
The Connétable of St. John :
I can only give the information that is presented to me and, as I said in my initial answer, I would have much preferred to have been able to give the information to the Deputy when he first asked me in May 2024.
[11:15]
- Deputy A.F. Curtis :
Could the Minister advise whether the Minister for the Environment will be taking responsibility for the officers in the geospatial team who will obviously manage a future contract or whether it is just the Ministerial responsibility?
The Connétable of St. John :
The detail is yet to be worked out and that is why the transfer has been slightly delayed.