§ Mr. AllanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is in respect of the computer file formats used for the(a)distribution and (b)archiving of publicly available documents. [173353]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe Department uses a number of file formats in addition to HTML on its website. All major publications are made available in Adobe portable document format (PDF). Other formats used include rich text format (RTF), Microsoft Word, plain text, comma separated value (CSV), Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, audio and video file formats.
The use of the above formats depends on the specific information and the use to which it will be put. For example, statistical publications such as statistical bulletins are normally available in PDF with the associated data available as Excel spreadsheets; online forms that health and social care professionals are required to complete or wish to re-use are made available in Word and RTF; presentations are usually made available in PDF and Microsoft PowerPoint format.
In archiving electronic documents, the Department aims to preserve documents in these formats.