§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans she has to review the e-strategy of the Public Record Office following experience with the 1901 Census website. [26524]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe Public Record Office is currently reviewing its e-business strategy as part of the annual corporate planning process. The draft corporate plans are submitted to the Lord Chancellor.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the cost to public funds was of setting-up and providing systems to support the 1901 Census website. [26503]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe cost to the Public Record Office since 1998 of the 1901 Census Online Project has been £1.2 million. The bulk of the project is funded by the PRO's business partner QinetiQ Ltd., using independent finance, and is intended to be self-financing.
101W
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which contractors were responsible for the construction and operation of the 1901 Census website. [26505]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe contractor responsible for the construction and operation of the 1901 Census website is QinetiQ Ltd., supported by its sub-contractors Amey IT Services and Sopheon UK Ltd. Amey IT Services sub-contracted Internet Service Provision to BTlgnite.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what was the planned capacity of the 1901 Census website; what has been the actual level of demand from the public; and if she will make a statement. [26525]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe planned capacity was calculated by benchmarking with other existing family history sites and then raised. The site was then constructed to allow for 1 million users, with provision to cope with peak demand of 1.2 million users, in any 24-hour period. Prior to the site being closed on 7 January 2002 to enable enhancements to be carried out, it is estimated that the maximum demand it experienced was approximately 1.2 million users per hour.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if she will make a statement on the reasons for the closure of the 1901 Census website; and when she expects it to re-open. [26502]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonFrom its launch on 2 January 2002 the site was subject to levels of demands that were unprecedented in volume and intensity. Many users were prevented from accessing the service. So that enhancements could be introduced, the site was, therefore, temporarily closed to general internet access on 7 January 2002 with the exception of access at the Family Records Centre, at the Kew site of the PRO and at a number of local public libraries and archive services. General internet access will be re-introduced gradually as these enhancements are achieved.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if the 1901 Census is accessible on-line(a) from the Family Records Centre and (b) from other specific locations. [26504]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe 1901 Census is at present available online at the Family Records Centre in Islington, at the Kew site of the PRO, and at a number of local public library and archive services. This access, although limited, is feasible while enhancements are made to the site.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when contracts for the construction, support and operation of the 1901 Census website were(a) offered for tender and (b) awarded. [26506]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe PRO placed a notice in the Official Journal of the European Communities (OJEC), seeking expressions of interest on 6 November 1998. Following the tender process, the contract was awarded and signed by the PRO and QinetiQ Ltd. (formerly the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency) on 19 January 2000.