Government axes 376 more websites

The government has axed nearly half of its websites since June last year, following recommendations that all government digital services should be under one domain.

According to the Cabinet Office, 376 government websites have been closed since June 2010, bringing the total down to 444. Departments have now closed or committed to close approximately 80% of sites, said the department.

The news follows the launch in May of Alpha.gov, a pilot for a website that could put all UK government digital services and websites on one domain.

Alpha.gov began following the recommendations of digital champion Martha Lane Fox that all online services should be consolidated onto one site.

In its Structural Reform plan, the Cabinet Office committed to begin quarterly publication of the number of open websites starting in financial year 2011. This is the first such quarterly report, with the next due in October.