Fears have been raised major Southampton employer Ordnance Survey could be privatised

The publicly-owned Ordnance Survey is at the centre of speculation that it could be privatised as Chancellor George Osborne prepares to reveal how the government will deliver £20bn worth of savings by 2020.

The OS has its headquarters at Explorer House at Adanac Park in Nursling and employs 1,200 staff, of which 990 are based at the Southampton site.

Next month Mr Osborne will set out his spending review which will outline where he intends to make savings, and the speculation is that as a publicly owned asset, the OS could be in line to be sold off.

Hampshire MPs are now demanding answers over its future.

Caroline Nokes MP for Romsey and Southampton North in whose constituency OS is based, said: “I have not been given any advance information about any plans to privatise the Ordnance Survey.

"However, I am very conscious they are a major local employer and play a very significant role in the local economy. Their site at Nursling is a landmark on the way into Southampton and they certainly have a proud reputation and relationship with our city.

“I will certainly be raising this with BiS (Business Innovation and Skills)and seeking reassurances that any plans will reinforce the robustness of this great local asset.”

Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead said he would also be asking questions over whether the organisation could be in line for privatisation.

Mr Whitehead, pictured below, in whose constituency OS was based before its move to the city’s outskirts in 2011, said: “I am not aware of any proposal along those lines but it is certainly something I will be looking into and asking about.”

Alan Whitehead

When asked whether there was any proposal to sell off the organisation, a spokesman for the Department for Business Innovation and Skills refused to rule it out.

A statement read: “The Government is committed to ensuring the effective and efficient management of publicly owned assets and keeps ownership of all assets under review.”

Earlier this year the OS became a limited company with the Government named as the sole shareholder.

The arrangement means the profit the organisation makes over and above what it costs to run, is paid directing back to the public purse.

Last year around £20m in dividends were paid back into the Treasury.

A spokesman for OS said the organisation could not comment on any plans the government may have regarding its future, but that speculation was often raised whenever there was a review of publicly owned assets.

Group secretary for the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union Tony Conway said he would be surprised if there was any proposal to privatise OS as a result of the spending review.

“I don’t believe it will be sold off, I would be shocked if it were,” he said.

Along with producing paper maps the lion’s share of OS business comes from digital map data, online route planning along with sharing services and mobile apps.

As a result of a deal with the government public organisations, including the emergency services, councils and highways agencies, can access the data held by OS for free.