To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of maintaining his Department's website in the 2008-09 financial year; and what the forecast cost is of maintaining websites within his responsibility in the 2009-10 financial year. (302418)

The total cost of maintaining the Department's website in 2008-09 was £2,840,326.59. This figure has been calculated in line with Central Office of Information guidance: TG128 Measuring website costs. The forecast cost for maintaining the Department's website in 2009-10 is expected to be in line with the reported total figure for 2008-09.

A forecast figure for all websites within the Department's responsibility has not been provided, as this would include 71 remaining websites that we are converging or rationalising under Transformational Government. This would incur disproportionate costs.