HC Deb 15 February 1999 vol 325 cc443-6W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 16 December 1998,Official Report, column 536, if he will list the expenditure not included in his answer incurred (a) by task forces and review bodies, (b) by focus groups, (c) on market research and (d) for publications and publicity; and if he will list the bodies which incurred the expenditure. [71007]

Mr. Meale

The expenditure on publications incurred by DETR and not included in my previous answer is some £3,759,000 since 1 May 1997.

The expenditure on research among focus groups was some £128,000. This figure was subsumed within the figure for public opinion research, contained in my answer of 16 December 1998.

It is not possible to give a breakdown on expenditure incurred by task forces and review bodies without incurring disproportionate cost.

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 16 December 1998,Official Report, column 536, if he will list the expenditure not included in his answer incurred by (a) his agencies and non-departmental public bodies and (b) the Central Office of Information for relevant work carried out for his Department. [71004]

Mr. Meale

The expenditure on research and advertising incurred by my Department's executive agencies is:

£
Agency Research Advertising Direct mail
DVLA 1124,000 5,000,000 2408,000
DSA 71,000 15,000 149,000
MCA 15,463 87,403 2,355
Vehicle Inspectorate nil 9,850 nil
VCA nil nil nil
QE11 nil 23,863 5,840
Planning Inspectorate 7,000 nil nil
Highways Agency 60,000 74,000 nil
1 Includes expenditure on public acceptance research on Statutory Off Road Notifications (SORN)
2 Includes expenditure on mailings to support SORN

The expenditure on research and advertising incurred by DETR sponsored NDPBs is not available centrally and cannot be provided without disproportionate cost.

The majority of the Department's research and advertising is placed through the Central Office of Information and therefore the expenditure for relevant work (other than mailings) carried out for the Department by the Central Office of Information is as provided in my answer of 16 December 1998.

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the expenditure incurred by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on(a) the setting up and (b) the operation of web sites, indicating the cases in which the expenditure has been above that budgeted; and if he will list for each web site (i) the topics covered, (ii) the current average number of hits per month and (iii) the estimated expenditure on each web site for each of the next three years. [70973]

Mr. Meale

DETR's Website was launched in November 1997 at a cost of some £5,000. DETR's core Website includes the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, Marine Accidents Investigation Branch, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Vehicle Certification Agency, as well as two related sites, one providing air quality information and one with information aimed at local government. It also hosts several NDPBs—the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment, the Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards and the Disabled Person's Transport Advisory Committee. The cost of running these sites in the financial year 1998–99 is some £320,000. This is within budget.

  1. (i) The core Website publishes information covering the full range of the Department's responsibilities—aviation, construction, drinking water, environmental protection, housing, local government, London, local transport, mobility, planning, railways, regeneration, roads, road safety, shipping, wildlife and the countryside.
  2. (ii) Average monthly hits are 1.65 million.
  3. (iii) Estimated expenditure over the next three years: 1999–2000 £450,000; 2000–2001 £550,000; 2001–2002 £650,000.

The Department also runs a Website for one NDPB, The British Government Panel on Sustainable Development. Its set-up costs were some £2,000 and annual running cost is estimated at £2,500.

  1. (i) This Website publishes its annual reports to the Prime Minister.
  2. (ii) Average monthly hits are 1,000.
  3. (iii) estimated expenditure over the next three years: 1999–2000 £3,000; 2000–2001 £3,500; 2001–2002 £4,000.

Management of other DETR agency and NDPB Websites is devolved to these bodies. The following information is available.

DETR Executive Agencies

Highways Agency Website—set-up costs of some £32,000; annual running cost estimate at £15,000.

  1. (i) Publishes details of organisational structure and contact points, agency documentation, such as annual reports, information relating to individual road schemes, planned road improvements information, contractors information and a children's interactive section.
  2. (ii) Average monthly hits: 47,000.
  3. (iii) Estimated expenditure over the next three years: currently not finalised.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Website—set-up costs of some £1,600; annual running cost estimated at £1,000.

  1. (i) Publishes information on vehicle registration, driving licence information, answers to frequently asked questions, contact points, annual report and current consultation papers.
  2. (ii) Average monthly hits 93,500
  3. (iii) Estimated expenditure over the next three years: 1999–2000 £2,000; 2000–2001 £5,500; 2001–2002 £5,000.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Sales of Marks Website—set-up costs of some £15,000; annual running cost estimated at £17,000.

  1. (i) Established to advertise and promote DVLA's sale of Marks scheme. The buying of selected registrations.
  2. (ii) Average monthly hits 690,000.
  3. (iii) Estimated expenditure over the next three years: 1999–2000 £60,000; 2000–2001 £60,000; 2001–2002 £60,000.

Vehicle Inspectorate Website. Its set-up costs were some £200 and annual running cost is estimated at £1,200.

  1. (i) This Website publishes Who we are, What we do, MOT test, HGV and PSV tests information, Single Vehicle Approval, information on other types of testing, enforcement, accidents, defects and recalls.
  2. (ii) Average monthly hits are 1,000.
  3. (iii) Estimated expenditure over the next three years: 1999–2000 £1,200; 2000–2001 £1,200; 2001–2002 £1,200.

Driving Standards Agency has no Website.

Vehicle Certification Agency part of the DETR core site.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency part of the DETR core site.

Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre has no Website.

Planning Inspectorate Website—set-up costs of some £1,300; annual running cost estimated at £1,500.

  1. (i) Publishes information concerning the work of the organisation and its objectives, subscription information for the Planning Inspectorate Journal; and information about the work of a Planning Inspector.
  2. (ii) Average monthly hits 500
  3. (iii) Estimated expenditure over the next three years: 1999–2000 £2,000; 2000–2001 £2,000; 2001–2002 £2,000.

Information for all DETRs, NDPBs and Government Offices can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information on the following major NDPB Websites is given:

Environment Agency Website—set-up costs of some £2000,00; annual running cost estimated at £105,000.

  1. (i) Publishes state of the environment reports including Waste, radioactive substances, air quality and river quality. Guidance and information including flood defence, flood warning, waste information, water conservation, corporate information, board minutes, research and development programmes and summaries.
  2. (ii) Average monthly hits 850,000.
  3. (iii) Estimated expenditure over the next three years: 1999–2000 £350,000; 2000–2001 £1,000,000; 2001–2002 £1,000,000.

Audit Commission Website—set-up costs of some £30,000; annual running cost estimated at £15,000.

  1. (i) Publishes a range of corporate information, publications catalogue, paid for subscription service for technical reviews, on-line local authorities performance indicators and directory of Audit appointments.
  2. (ii) Average monthly visitors 2,100.
  3. (iii) Estimated expenditure over the next three years: 1999–2000 £40,000; 2000–2001 £20,000; 2001–2002 £20,000.

Health and Safety Executive Website. Its set-up costs were nil and annual running cost is estimated at £6,000.

  1. (i) This Website publishes information relating to health and safety at work and general information on HSE's business, how to obtain publications and standards of performance.
  2. (ii) Average monthly hits are 190,000.
  3. (iii) Estimated expenditure over the next three years: 1999–2000 £6,000; 2000–2001 £6,000; 2001–2002 £6,000.

Health and Safety Executive Commercial Website. Its set-up costs were £10,000 and annual running cost is estimated at £20,000.

  1. (i) This Commercial Website sells two HSE Books on the Year 2000 and is developing as an e-commerce site.
  2. (ii) Average monthly hits are 30,000.
  3. (iii) Estimated expenditure over the next three years: 1999–2000 £20,000; 2000–2001 £20,000, 2001–2002 £20,000.