§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what web site his Department maintains on the Internet; what information is provided there; how often it is updated; what is the address; and if he or his Department answers questions and supplies additional information through the Internet. [7568]
§ Mr. HoramThe Department has maintained an Internet world wide web site on the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency's open government WWW server since 20 June. It is amongst the most heavily used of the departmental home pages. The site includes details of the Department of Health strategic aims and objectives, national health service developments, research and development activities, departmental publications and events, progress on "The1212W Health of the Nation" initiative and details of departmental public information phone lines. In addition, departmental press releases are available, as are links to departmental agencies. The period of update of the pages varies according to the information. For example, the text of departmental press releases is updated daily. A "What's New" page is available to help alert users to new amendments to the Department's home pages. The address of the Department's Internet site is http://www.open.gov.uk/doh/dhhome.htm and a feedback form facility is available. Details of departmental publications and their availability, as well as the full text of some departmental publications and information packs, can be downloaded. A departmental Internet mail box is under consideration.