Michael Fabricant’s website had 788,424 hits during the period August 2002
to July 2003 it was revealed today. Many were from abroad – particularly
the United States and Australia. Strangely, 43 hits came in July from
surfers using search engines like Google looking for references to
‘Inspector Lockhart’ of No Hiding Place fame – the TV series of 30 years
back. Michael Fabricant had mentioned in the website that his Parliamentary
offices are situated in the building which was formerly Scotland Yard and
was seen each week in the opening credits of the TV series.

"Although my website is kept up to date and there are photos in it, none
are pornographic! I am therefore astonished at the popularity of the site
and the locations of some of its visitors." says Michael Fabricant. "I
have tried to keep the site both informative and attractive while being easy
to navigate. I have avoided animations and pop-ups which slow everything
down. I am aware that most surfers still do not have broadband."

The design and maintenance of the site has been undertaken by local
Lichfield firm: Solnet Systems Limited. "MD Dave Taylor approached me some
years ago about setting up a website and I was one of the first MPs to do
so. However, the attraction of a website as opposed to a magazine is that
it can be constantly updated and Dave and I have set up a system where new
information can easily be posted on the site for everyone’s benefit" adds
Michael. "The disadvantage is that I cannot control who does the surfing.
Gordon Brown recently took a quote from me out of context from my website
and quoted it back to me in answer to a question I had asked him in the
Commons Chamber. I suppose I should have been flattered".