Departmental Expenditure (Hansard, 15 February 1999)

§ Mr. Don Foster
To ask the Secretary of State for Health 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. [70970]

§ Ms Jowell
The Department's internet site has information on a wide range of topics covering the Department's activities and policies including Departmental responsibilities and objectives, press releases, Ministerial team details, Chief Medical Officer information, and the full text of all Departmental circulars and some Departmental publications. The Medical Devices Agency (MDA) Internet site includes information on reporting adverse incidents and Year 2000 and medical devices. The Medicines Control Agency (MCS) internet site covers its structure and functions together with electronic copies of some publications. The NHS Pensions Agency (NHSPA) internet site targets over 11,000 NHS employers on the co-administration of the pension scheme. The NHS Estates web site also includes information on its structure and functions and the text of some circulars. Statistical data concerning the cost and usage of the web sites are as follows:
531W
The following information is available on the Department's non-departmental public bodies web sites on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), National Radiological Protect Board (NRPB), Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) and National Biological Standards Board (NBSB)):

Web site FEA NRPB PHLS NBSB

Setup costs (£000) 6 — 22 4

Operation costs 1998–99 (£000) — — — 2

Average monthly hits 3,500 20,000 110,000 13,500

Estimated expenditure 1999–2000 (£000) 10 — — 2

Estimated expenditure 2000–01 (£000) 3 — — 2

Estimated expenditure 2001–02 (£000) 3 — — 2

§ Mr. Don Foster
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 16 December 1998,Official Report, column 560, 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. [71009]

§ Ms Jowell
The information requested is given in the table.

£ million

Estimated expenditure (since 1 May 1997)

(a) Non-departmental public bodies—public opinion research, television, radio and newspaper advertising 0.45

(b) The previously supplied total expenditure for television, radio and newspaper advertising during 1997–98 (£2.08 million) was all for work supplied by Central Office of Information. The total estimate for this work in 1998–99 has not yet been produced. —

Web site	FEA	NRPB	PHLS	NBSB
Setup costs (£000)	6	—	22	4
Operation costs 1998–99 (£000)	—	—	—	2
Average monthly hits	3,500	20,000	110,000	13,500
Estimated expenditure 1999–2000 (£000)	10	—	—	2
Estimated expenditure 2000–01 (£000)	3	—	—	2
Estimated expenditure 2001–02 (£000)	3	—	—	2

£ million
	Estimated expenditure (since 1 May 1997)
(a) Non-departmental public bodies—public opinion research, television, radio and newspaper advertising	0.45
(b) The previously supplied total expenditure for television, radio and newspaper advertising during 1997–98 (£2.08 million) was all for work supplied by Central Office of Information. The total estimate for this work in 1998–99 has not yet been produced.	—