Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Geospatial Commission plans to publish (a) the full findings of its trial to develop a National Underground Asset Register and (b) the business case and timeframe for the development of that service.

Details of the work of the Geospatial Commission are available on their blog page, which includes information on the National Underground Asset Register Pilots.

The UK does not have a comprehensive map of underground utilities which increases the likelihood of dangerous utility strikes (especially for emergency works) and results in significant costs to utility companies, their operators and the wider economy. Any decision to proceed with creating a national register would be announced in the usual way, including invitations to tender for relevant work. Interim findings from the pilots will be published in due course.