THERE are fresh fears Southampton-based Ordnance Survey could be sold off by the Government.

Plans to "bring private capital" into the map-maker were revealed in the Government's spending review yesterday (Weds, Nov 25) while the 49 per cent Government shares at the Fareham-based National Air Traffic Services (NATS) are also set to be sold off.

And that has led to fears from some city politicians that privatisating OS could impact on the jobs of some of its workers.

The Daily Echo revealed in October that questions were being asked about whether the firm, which is one of Southampton's biggest employers with 1,200 staff, could be sold off.

The organisation moved to a £40m new base in Nursling in 2010, where 990 of its staff are currently based.

And while it was not announced by Chancellor George Osborne in the House of Commons yesterday it has now been announced that potential privatisation will now be looked at.

The full report on the Government's spending review says that it will look to "develop options to bring private capital into the OS before 2020”.

It also contains plans to explore the sale of the Government's 49 per cent stake in NATS.

Southampton Test Labour MP Alan Whitehead: "It looks like a sell-off but it's not clear yet.

"Mapping data services are a central service offered by OS - if this results in cutting the basic resource that is respected across the world then it could be a poor decision.

"If they were to be privatised and unless you had strong protection then it would almost certainly be the case that people will do some of the detailed work there would go.

"It would become just another body with maps and that would be very bad news for the country and for a number of staff at OS."

Daily Echo: Southampton Test MP Alan WhiteheadAlan Whitehead

A spokesman for OS said: "No decision has been taken at this time. Ordnance Survey became a Government Company in April 2015 and time is needed to allow the organisation to implement its strategy and realise the benefits of the new model. This is a decision to explore options of private capital investment into OS.

"As part of plans to secure the long-term growth of OS, this announcement signals that Government will begin to explore the potential role for private sector capital into the organisation."

When the Daily Echo asked further questions about the potential impact on jobs, they added: "No decision has been taken at this time so there is no impact on staff as a result of this announcement.

"Any changes that may take place would involve full staff engagement."

The Treasury said the discussions were at an "early stage" but added that the proposals "could be anything from full privatisation to bring[ing] in some private capital for a smaller amount".

Romsey and Southampton North MP Caroline Nokes, whose constituency contains the OS offices, was unavailable for comment.

Earlier this year the OS became a limited company with the Government named as the sole shareholder, meaning profit over its running costs goes back into the public purse.

Last year around £20m in dividends were paid back into the Treasury and most of its business comes from digital map data, online route planning and sharing services and mobile apps.