Whitehall to audit government web sites' popularity

The popularity of departments' web sites will be audited

The government is assessing the popularity of its own web sites as part of a programme to ensure taxpayers are receiving value for money.

The Central Office of Information (COI) has appointed media audit firm ABCe to independently validate the figures generated by audits.

COI will publish comprehensive figures on the cost, quality and use of government web sites by June 2010, said board director for interactive services Alex Butler.

"We are determined to drive up the quality of government web sites to ensure they offer excellent value for money for the taxpayer, and a better user experience," he said.

All central government departments will be required to provide their usage figures for auditing, using a consistent set of measurements for unique users/browsers, page impressions, visits and durations of time spent on sites.

Departments must ensure that every web site planned to be open on 1 April 2010 has an audit schedule ending no later than 31 December 2009.

Recent COI guidance has created a common framework for government departments to measure the cost effectiveness, use and performance of their web sites.

The audit is, in part, a response to a Public Accounts Committee recommendation for reliable data on the volume and use of central government sites.

A web site usability tool kit for departments, developed in conjunction with the Cabinet Office and the Power of Information Task Force, is also now available from COI.