§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what web site his Department maintains on the Internet; what information is provided there; how often it142W is updated; what is the address; and if he or his Department answer questions and supply additional information through the Internet. [7572]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Scottish Office has made available to the public via the Government information service world wide web server information on a number of aspects of its work. The address of the Scottish Office home page is http://www.open.gov.uk/scotoff/scofhom.htm. The information available is extended and revised from time to time. It currently covers:
- The responsibilities and organisation of the Scottish Office;
- Summaries of the available Scottish Office factsheets;
- The structure of the new unitary local authorities;
- Higher education policy;
- Rural affairs and natural heritage policy with electronic links to the recently published White Paper, "Rural Scotland: People, Prosperity and Partnership";
- Links to information on educational research in Scotland;
- Outlines of the functions of the social work services group and Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate.
There is provision for direct e-mail response within the rural affairs and higher education policy pages to enable Internet users to submit questions and seek further information. Replies may also be sent by electronic mail.