HL Deb 22 July 2004 vol 664 cc75-6WA
The Earl of Northesk

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What mechanisms are in place to monitor and ensure proper compliance with the guidelines for UK government websites, with particular reference to the web accessibility needs of disabled people. [HL3580]

Lord Bassam of Brighton

There is no centralised system of monitoring UK government websites for compliance with the guidelines for UK government websites and the accessibility standards they achieve. Responsibility rests with individual government departments, agencies and local authorities.

The Earl of Northesk

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have plans to ensure that United Kingdom government websites comply with the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Accessibility Initiative and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines; and, if so, when they envisage that such compliance could be achieved. [HL3582]

Lord Bassam of Brighton

It is a legal requirement that websites can be used by disabled people. To enable this to be achieved, the Government have adopted the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Accessibility Initiative's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are particularly technical in their approach and we provide extensive guidance and encouragement to public sector web managers through the publication of the guidelines for UK government websites.

The responsibility for achieving and sustaining compliance rests with individual departments, agencies and local authorities.