Parliament unveils revamped web site

by Emma De Vita, Revolution UK Online
August 15, 2002.

"Parliament is relaunching its web site, after investing £100,000 in a redesign through web developer Epic. The site, which houses more than a million documents, soft-launched at the beginning of this month and now features increased functionality, including an advanced search facility and improved navigation.

John Harris, sales director at Epic, said: “The old site was labyrinthine and difficult to use. Epic wanted to provide an attractive, modern web site.”

New features include a directory of MPs with links to biographical details, more information about the work of parliamentary committees, and a direct link from the home page to live webcasting of parliamentary procedures.

Harris added that it was crucial to create a Parliament home page as well as ones for both Houses. He explained: “We discovered that the public does not distinguish between the House of Commons and the House of Lords – they just think of Parliament.”

The advanced search engine is a key feature of the redesigned site. It gives users a step-by-step guide to finding specific information, such as a specific parliamentary question or Bill. A navigation bar has been added to the top of the site to prevent users becoming lost. The revamp also aimed to make the site more accessible to the public, particularly visually impaired users.

Epic has previously worked for the Department of Trade and Industry and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office."