Cost to change internet domain name: FOI release

FOI reference: FOI/17/01133
Date received: 16 May 2017
Date responded: 7 June 2017

Information requested

The full all-inclusive cost involved in the change of the Scottish Parliament and Governments international internet domain name from 'gov.uk' to 'gov.scot', from initial 2012 consultations, through to its migration on the 17 January 2015, up to the date of this FOISA Request.

Response

The gov.scot domain was adopted as the Scottish Government's principal web address on February 17, 2015. An announcement was made through a formal Scottish Government news release which explains the circumstances and reasons that led to the adoption. It can be found at https://news.gov.scot/news/wwwgovscot.

It cost £110 + VAT to purchase the gov.scot domain. The current management and renewal fee for the gov.scot domain is £24 + VAT per year.

There were no additional costs associated with the change in terms of technical configuration, communication, or amended content as this work was done as appropriate by Scottish Government staff and completed as part of a civil servant's normal duties.

In terms of changed printed materials, letterheads etc. no additional costs have been incurred because the previous web address www.scotland.gov.uk functions as a redirect taking users to the primary address at www.gov.scot. In this way references on materials issued prior to February 2015 remain viable and accurate. New materials reflected the new web address as they were rolled out.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. The Scottish Government does not hold information concerning the change of the Scottish Parliament's internet domain name because the Scottish Parliament is responsible for the management of its own internet domain. However, you may wish to contact the Scottish Parliament at foi.officer@parliament.scot or Head of Information Governance, Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh EH99 1SP who may be able to help you. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

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