§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what use he plans to make of the Internet to make Government more open. [5104]
§ Angela EagleThe Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions already takes advantage of new technology, including the Internet, as part of its communications strategy. We promote the Internet as an important additional source of information across a wide range of the Department's responsibilities. Examples include the provision of national air quality data, up-dated hourly from the Department's monitoring stations, and full details of the Mobility Roadshow, being held at Crowthorne, with information on a range of production vehicles and equipment for disabled drivers.
The Department currently has two Internet sites averaging 33,000 accesses a week. Collectively both sites carry substantial guidance on open access with information on the Department's business, with named officials, addresses, and telephone numbers and an alphabetically listed public enquiry facility with over 70 e-mail addresses. As a result of our recent merger, arrangements are now in hand to move towards a single Departmental Internet site. Until the site is set up the current addresses are as follows:
- DOE-http://www.open.gov.,uk/doe/doehome.htm
- DOT-http://www.open.gov.uk/dot/dothome.htm