§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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 answer questions and supply additional information through the Internet. [7567]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe Department has pages on the CCTA's world wide web site known as http://www.open.gov.uk. Currently, the DOE pages include information on: the Department's responsibilities; air quality; drinking water; local government finance; the housing White Paper summary and departmental press notices. The Department's air quality information and press notices are updated on a daily basis; other information is updated periodically. Unresolved questions about authentication and confidentiality inhibit the use of the Internet for more general communications.