Departmental Expenditure (Hansard, 15 February 1999)

§ Mr. Kilfoyle

My Department fully supports the open government initiative and the Internet forms an integral part of our overall communications, publications and information strategy.

The Cabinet Office, its Agencies and NDPBs, and the Central Office of Information are responsible for a total of sixteen web sites, the details of which are given in the table.

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Cabinet Office agencies, NDPBs and other associated web sites
Name	Content of site	Expenditure Initial and running costs	Estimated expenditure over the next 3 years	Hits per month (average)
Central IT Unit (www.open.gov.uk/citu)	This web site features guidance on electronic government	The Central IT Unit web site was set up at a cost of £14,000. The operational charges for 1998–99 are £20,000. Both are within budget	£20,000 per year	Not available
Central Communications and Telecommunications Agency (www.ccta.gov.uk)	This site contains details of the services that CCTA offers and guidance on technological issues	The estimated cost of maintaining CCTA's own web site is under £5,000 per year. The estimated marginal cost of initially establishing the CCTA web site is under £10,000.	Estimated expenditure on this web site for 1999–2000 is around £20,000.	46,600
CGIS (www.open.gov.uk)	CGIS hosts information from around 130 public sector organisations and units, plus the Royal Household. It is one of the largest public sector web sites in Europe.	The set-up costs for this site were under £50,000. Estimated operational costs for 1998–99 are £330,000.	Estimated expenditure on this web site for 1999–2000 is around £595,000. Figures are not yet available for 2000–02.	22.95 million
Her Majesty's Stationery Office (www.hmso.gov.uk)	The HMSO web site was set up in 1996 following a decision by Ministers to publish all new Acts and Statutory Instruments on the Internet. The site describes HMSO and its responsibilities	There were no charges to Government in setting up the site. Maintenance charges for calendar year 1998 were £8,299.	Estimated charges for 1998–99 are £9,174. Costs of up to £19,756 have been allocated for 1999–2000.	44,600
Central Office of Information COI site (www.coi.gov.uk/coi)	COI's role and performance; description of COI's services; frequently asked questions; an extensive guide to the use of the web.	—	£64,000 (total).	Included in figure of 1.2 million (below)
Government Press Release site	Press Releases from 54 Government sites.	Set up costs were £32,000. Upgrade costs were £28,500 and this year's operational costs are estimated at £82,500.	£176,500 (total).	1.2 million
British Monarchy Site (www.royal.gov.uk)	Information on the British Monarchy.	Set up costs were £38,000. This year's operational costs are estimated at £44,000.	Estimated expenditure over the next three years is expected to be in line with current costs. However, the popularity of the site has prompted a review of its scope and this may result in changes to planned operational costs.	11.2 million
Civil Service College (www.open.gov.uk/college)	This site contains a full directory of courses offered by the College.	The Civil Service College web site was set up, at no charge to Government, in 1995. The operational charges for 1997–98 were £7,050 and this year is £1,175—both within budget.	£1,175 per year.	16,500
The Buying Agency (www.open.gov.uk/tba)	The site covers a basic overview of The Buying Agency's operations, their Year 2000 programme and details of their suppliers who claim to be year 2000 compliant. The site occasionally promotes events such as the Public Sector Expo.	The Buying Agency's web site was developed in-house but costs are not separately identifiable. The Agency pays £3,000 operational costs per year.	£3,000 per year.	2,200
Womens National Commission (www.thewnc.org.uk)	The WNC web site covers: the remit of the WNC, how it works, some of the key issues with which it is concerned and a list of the membership and the publications. It also has cross references to the web sites of some of the member organisations.	The direct cost to the WNC is setting up of the WNC web site was around £30 for the registration of the name. The design costs were met centrally by DSS where the WNC was located until October 1998. The cost of operating the site is still being met centrally through the DSS IT budget.	Costs will be met centrally by Cabinet Office and are not separately identifiable.	Not known

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Cabinet Office agencies, NDPBs and other associated web sites
Name	Content of site	Expenditure Initial and running costs	Estimated expenditure over the next 3 years	Hits per month (average)
Committee On Standards In Public Life (www.open.gov.uk/cspl)	The web site includes: background information on the work of the Committee; information on individual Committee Members; the Register on Interests of Committee Members; a list of Committee Publications; abstracts of Committee Publications; and links to other relevant web sites.	The web site for the CSPL was set up in May 1997. The cost of establishing and maintaining the web site to date is £2,500. The web site was redesigned in 1998 at a cost of £3,888. All costs were met from within the Committee's budget.	Budgeted at less than £1,000 per year	4,400
Public Appointments Unit (www.open.gov.uk/pau)	The purpose of the Directory is to provide an open, public record of key public appointments made by Government departments. It contains details of appointments made to executive NDPBs, advisory bodies, public corporations, nationalised industries and NHS bodies.	The Public Appointments Unit's Directory of Appointments was launched in January 1997. The cost of setting up the web-site was £7,000. The current cost of operating the site is £10,000 per year.	Total estimated expenditure for the next three years is likely to be around £24,000.	4,000
Property Advisers To The Civil Estate (www.property.gov.uk)	PACE'S web site details its structure and services	There were minimal setting up charges and the annual connection charge currently stands at £14,000 per year.	£14,000 per year.	100