To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reason her Department has decided to cease funding for the Gigateway; and whether she plans to reassess the spatial data infrastructure during the implementation of the INSPIRE Directive. (230317)

The Gigateway metadata service has been in operation for several years through the Association for Geographic Information as a unique service to the GI (geographic information) community. Due to financial pressures, funding support from Communities and Local Government for Gigateway ends on 31 March 2009. The future role of Gigateway within the UK Spatial Data Infrastructure will be developed following publication of the UK Location Strategy. DEFRA is leading the implementation of INSPIRE and the UK Location Strategy.