HC Deb 22 October 2002 vol 391 cc219-20W
Dr. Cable

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the website links associated with his Department, including sites now dormant or closed, and indicating whether they are live, dormant or closed; what the start up costs were for each site listed; what the operating costs were in each year since start up for each site; which company hosted each site; what assessment takes place for each site; which company does the assessment; if he will place the assessment reports in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [75579]

Ruth Kelly

As well as the main Treasury web site (www.hm-treasury.gov.uk), the Treasury is also responsible for the following sites:

Site name Start up costs
www.addingitup.gov.uk £23,000
www.euro.gov.uk £9,602
The Government Economic Service's recruitment site (www.ges.gov.uk) £4,310
Invest to Save web site (www.isb.gov.uk) £13,098
Whole of Government accounts site (www.wga.gov.uk) £500
The Commonwealth Finance Ministers Site (www.cfmm2002.org) £4,175
Figures are exclusive of VAT unless otherwise indicated.

For information on the start up costs of the recently relaunched main Treasury site, I refer the Hon member to the reply I gave to the member for Arundel & South Downs (Mr. Howard Flight), 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 321W.

The Treasury was the first Government Department to have a web site and over the last eight years has developed and maintained a series of web sites. Complete start up and running costs for all Treasury related sites launched since 1994, including dormant and closed ones, could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

The Treasury's websites are hosted by commercial companies whose contracts are subject to regular review. Anticipated costs on hosting services over the next twelve months will be approximately £40,000 with another £50,000 spent on technical management and support. Information relating to the individual companies hosting the site could not be disclosed under Exemption 7 (Effective Management and Operation of the Public Services) of the Code of Conduct on Access to Government Information. The Treasury has not, to date, commissioned external companies to provide reports on its web sites.