HC Deb 27 June 1997 vol 296 c658W
Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what use he plans to make of the Internet to make Government more open. [5103]

Mr. Doug Henderson

This Department will continue to develop its programme of Internet publishing to facilitate the wider dissemination of Foreign and Commonwealth Office news and information material, in line with the Open Government Code of Practice. This includes guidance on how to complain for those dissatisfied with Consular Services provided at British Embassies, High Commissions or consulates overseas.

It is planned to establish websites for the following forthcoming international meetings which the UK will host: the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the EU Presidency, the Asia-Europe Meeting and the "Summit of the 8".

For an account of "FCO On-Line" (http://www.fco.gov.uk/), the world-wide web service of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the previous right hon. Member for Richmond and Barnes on 11 March 1997, Official Report, columns 151–52.

Some British missions overseas also maintain Internet websites and for a list of these I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs gave in another place on 3 June 1997, Official Report, House of Lords, columns 19–20.