From Hull to Helsinki - Thousands flock to Euro-MP Website

12.00.00am GMT Mon 1st Jan 2001

The website of Diana Wallis MEP is attracting a new 'surfer' every four minutes, according to statistics released today. An average of 15 people per hour are logging on to www.dianawallismep.org.uk, which provides news and information about the Euro-MP's activities in her Yorkshire & Humber constituency and in the European Parliament.

And it's not just people in the UK that are logging on for the latest news. The website has attracted visitors from one hundred different countries around the world. Many people logging on to Diana's site are from outside the UK, in countries as far apart as the USA, Hong Kong, and Iceland.

Since the site was re-launched in September, the number of prolonged visits to the site has increased by a third each month.

Commenting on the statistics, Diana Wallis MEP said:

"I am delighted with the number of people visiting my site. The Internet is fast becoming a major player in terms of communicating with my constituents and others.

"The number of people logging on from other countries - especially those outside Europe - is further evidence of the importance of European affairs and decision making. It reflects the lobbying we get as MEPs and the growing influence of the European Parliament as Europe's only democratic institution."

Continued…

Visitors to Diana's website can find photographs, speeches, the latest news and links to other European and Liberal Democrat sites. There is also the opportunity to contact Diana directly from the site by email.

"I have gradually been picking up more and more casework and issues through email as more people become aware of the site," continued Diana.

"Politicians have a responsibility to be available to their constituents. The Internet enables a unique two way process of communication that complements the telephone and pen and paper perfectly."

˜In December, www.dianawallismep.org.uk received 11,328 hits.

˜An average of 15.2 people spent pro-longed visits to the site each day during that month.

˜Since its re-launch in September, the number of visits to the site has increased by a monthly average of 31%.

˜During the month of November 2000, the site received 1,559 hits from the USA, 540 from European Union countries, and 368 hits from other countries such as Hong Kong, Iceland, Australia, and Brazil.