UK cuts over 500 websites in effort to streamline

In an effort to streamline access to government, Tony Blair's government is shutting down hundreds of websites, streamlining the UK government's online operations into a handful of portals and major sites, reports the BBC.

The shutdown of hundreds of government websites is part of a plan to make it easier for users to access information. The Cabinet Office believes that people prefer to find what they need quickly and easily rather than choosing to surf across huge numbers of sites. What a concept.

The British government had 951 sites, only 26 of which are guaranteed to continue after the revamp. 551 sites will definitely be taken down. Citizens will be mainstreamed into the BBC website and two main portals, Directgov for individuals and Business Link for businesses.

Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden said there had been a need to "deal decisively" with the proliferation of government websites.

About £9m a year was expected to be saved over three years by cutting back on "vanity" sites that do not serve a useful purpose. The need to to streamline the sites was made because there had been a serious proliferation of government websites. The government is expected to save about £9m a year on cutting superfluous sites.