§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if she will list the website links associated with her Department, including sites now dormant or closed, and indicating whether they are live, dormant or closed; what the start-up costs were for each site listed; what the operating costs were in each year since start up for each site; which company hosted each site; what assessment takes place for each site; which company does the assessment; if she will place the assessment reports in the Library; and if she will make a statement. [75592]
379W
§ Mrs. LiddellThe Scotland Office website is www.scottishsecretary.gov.uk and was set up by departmental staff. Identifiable costs for the Scotland Office were £2,700. Operating costs for the site are currently estimated at £2,000 per year. The site is hosted by Scotland On-Line.
My department is also responsible for the Friends of Scotland website (www.friendsofscotland.gov.uk), which was established on 23 July 2002. Start-up costs were £62,623. Details of annual operating costs are not yet available but maintenance and development costs to date are £4,711. The site is hosted by Ed Net.
Both of these sites are live. My department also set up an initial Friends of Scotland website (www.friendsofscotland.org.uk) earlier this year. This site was set up within the department and the start-up and operating costs were minimal. The site was hosted by Scotland On-Line and is now closed.
No external companies have been commissioned to provide an assessment of the department's websites. The content and use of the sites is kept under review within the department.