§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website search facilities have failed to allow access to inquirers. [62066]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Commission launched the Debt of Honour Register on the Internet on 9 November to give access to the commemorative information on 1.7 million of the Commonwealth's war dead beyond that provided to 50,000 inquirers annually by letter and telephone.
The Internet site was developed by Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) and during the first two weeks of operation a technical defect limited access to the site. The defect manifested itself only after the service was experiencing full-load conditions. However, during this period approximately 230,000 of the several million, who have visited the site, have interrogated the database.
188WAs of 1 December the service has been stabilised and its reliability improved. Further diagnosis and rectification work is being urgently undertaken by CCTA.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the contract with CCTA for the construction of a memorial search facilities website, indicating penalty clauses applicable. [62067]
§ Mr. SpellarA contract to develop and maintain an Internet site for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission was let to the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) on 29 July 1998. Penalty clauses were not applicable in the agreement for the development work undertaken.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission launched the Debt of Honour Register on the Internet on 9 November to give access to the commemorative information on 1.7 million of the Commonwealth's war dead beyond that provided to 50,000 inquirers annually by letter and telephone.