HC Deb 08 March 2004 vol 418 cc1274-5W
Matthew Taylor

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost in(a) financial and (b) other terms was in (i) each financial year since 1997 and (ii) 2003–04 until the latest date for which figures are available of (A) developing and (B) maintaining (1) his Department's website and (2) each website for which his Department is responsible; and how many (C) unique hosts and (D) hits there were in each month for each website in (iii) each financial year since 1997 and (iv) 2003–04 until the latest date for which numbers are available. [155854]

Ruth Kelly

The Treasury's public website (www.hmtreasurv.gov.uk) is run by the department's publishing and internet unit. At present, 3.5 full time equivalent staff work on web-based projects.

The direct costs of running the site over the last 12 months was £84,613.32. During this period, the site had 38 million page views and more than two million visitors. For information on costs for earlier periods, I refer the hon. member to the replies I gave the hon. member for Buckingham (John Bercow) on 23 March 2003 (Official Report, column 60W) and to the hon. member for Arundel and South Downs on 19 December 2001 (Official Report, column 321 W).

The Treasury also maintains the Euro preparations website (www.euro.aov.uk') at a cost of £32,782 in the current financial year, £36,793 during 2002–03, £59,030 during 2001–02 and £30,399 during 2000–01. The site has received 1.7 million visits since the site was relaunched by the Chancellor in March 2001.

In co-operation with the Cabinet Office, the Treasury maintains the Invest to Save Budget website (www.isb.gov.uk1) at a cost of £11,515 during 2000–01, £41,959 during 2001—02, £11,116 during 2002–03 and £62,875 during 2003–04 when the website and the database of project information that is accessed through it was redeveloped.

The department is currently participating in the joint Treasury, Bank of England and Financial Services Authority financial continuity website and has paid £5,705.80 in development costs during this financial year.

Other smaller sites run and managed by the Treasury are maintained by the Publishing unit with assistance from the Information Services (Official Report, column 60W) and to the hon. member for Arundel and South Downs on 19 December 2001 (Official Report, column 321W).