Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Area 7c, Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
Telephone 08459 33 55 77
Website www.defra.gov.uk
Our ref RFI 3418
Ms Elizabeth Mutch
Date 28 July 2010
email: request-40395-acacfff1@what do they
know.com
Dear Ms Mutch
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: Website analytics for sites reviewed under the
recent cost cutting exercise.
Thank you for your request for information about websites analytics for sites reviewed
under the recent cost cutting exercise, specifically user numbers per site and time spent
on sites. ‘Bounce’ rates were also requested. We received this request on 01 July and are
dealing with it under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
Despite recent media coverage to the contrary, there has not been a recent cost cutting
exercise relating to Defra’s websites. As a result we are unable to provide you with any
information associated with such an exercise.
However we do plan to close a number of Defra managed websites by April 2011 in line
with a process called Transformational Government Website Rationalisation (TGWR); a
government endorsed programme laid down in 2007. Its aim is to reduce the costs of
maintaining government websites, not to deprive the public and key user groups of
important information. Indeed, extending the release of government data and public
transparency are key principles of this new government.
Please be assured that we plan to move content that is relevant to our audiences, as part
of the same process, to alternative locations. In the short to medium term, we also plan to
use website redirects to ensure users are taken from any closed website addresses to
where content has been moved.
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. I also attach an annex giving
contact details should you be unhappy with the service you have received.
Yours sincerely
Robert Jones
Corporate Communications
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Annex A
Copyright
The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988. You are free to use it for your own purposes, including any non-
commercial research you are doing and for the purposes of news reporting. Any other re-
use, for example commercial publication, would require the permission of the copyright
holder. Most documents supplied by Defra will have been produced by government
officials and will be Crown Copyright. You can find details on the arrangements for re-
using Crown copyright on OPSI (Office of Public Sector Information) at:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/index.htm
Information you receive which is not subject to Crown Copyright continues to be protected
by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. You
must ensure that you gain their permission before reproducing any third party (non Crown
Copyright) information.
Annex B
Complaints
If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request you may
make a complaint or appeal against our decision within 40 working days of the date of this
letter. Please write to Brendan Walsh, Head of Defra’s Information Rights Team at,
Area1B Ergon House, Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AL, (email:
[email address]) who will arrange for an internal review of your case.
Details of Defra’s complaints procedure can be found at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/policy/opengov/complain/info.htm
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Please note that generally the
Information Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have first exhausted
Defra’s own complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
