§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps are being taken to rectify the problems associated with the 1901 on-line census. [50534]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonQinetiQ Ltd. is continuing to work on the technical enhancements. These enhancements are intended to make the site sufficiently robust to permit general internet access. The most important consideration is to ensure that the service is relaunched successfully. In the first instance, the service will be reintroduced at the designated service centres throughout the country as part of a rigorous testing process. It will then be relaunched on the internet as soon as practicable thereafter, subject to satisfactory completion of this process.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans she has to initiate an inquiry into the problems associated with the 1901 on-line census. [50442]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonLord Chancellor's Department officials are working closely with the Public Record Office and other parties involved with the 1901 census and are being kept fully informed of developments. I have no plans to launch an inquiry into the project.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what criteria were used to evaluate the ability of QinetiQ to deliver the 1901 on-line census. [50537]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe following criteria were used to evaluate the ability of QinetiQ to deliver the 1901 on-line census: commercial viability; customer service; innovation; operational impact on the PRO; organisational and cultural fit; risk management; technical feasibility.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which company was used to measure the capacity and size of system needed to manage the number of visitors to the 1901 on-line census. [50535]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe system sizing was undertaken by QinetiQ Ltd.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what evaluation was done to assess the use of the 1901 on-line census; and if rationing of initial access occurred. [50536]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe experience of large family history websites in the United States was investigated in order to chart likely levels and patterns of demand for the 1901 on-line census. In addition, a pilot project was conducted between April and July 2001 when the 1891 census returns for the county of Norfolk were made available over the internet. Rationing of initial access did not occur when the service was launched on 2 January 2002.
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§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what criteria will be used to assess the viability of companies who will be awarded contracts for the 1891 on-line census. [50533]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonIn the event of a contract being awarded for the 1891 on-line census, the criteria for the award of that contract would be the same as for the contract awarded for the 1901 on-line census.