§ 6. Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the millennium compliance of his Department's computer systems and those connected with them; and if he will make a statement. [6850]
§ Mr. BurtWe have set up a central project to assess and manage the effects of the year 2000 date change. Investigative work is well under way. A full analysis of the work necessary to achieve compliance and an estimate of costs are expected to be completed by the end of January 1997.
§ Mr. AtkinsonIn view of the crucial importance of the efficient and uninterrupted provision of pensions and benefits, not least at the turn of the century, does my hon. Friend agree that it will not be enough to ensure that the computer systems for which his Department is responsible are millennium compliant? What is he doing to ensure that computer systems in the private sector to which his Department's systems are connected will be safe in time?
§ Mr. BurtI am grateful for my hon. Friend's interest in this important topic. I can confirm that the Department is working with its external suppliers, as their compatibility is crucial. I am sure that he will be glad to know that all new contracts are year 2000 compliant, and that existing contracts are being reviewed—and renegotiated where necessary—to ensure full compliance.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursA Minister told us yesterday that the switch for the millennium would be an extremely 110 expensive project. Can the Minister tell us whether his projections for costs, which clearly come before the final projections in January, are included in the Red Book for the coming year and up until 1999?
§ Mr. BurtAt the moment, it is not possible for our Department to estimate precisely what the costs will be. The programme is that the report I mentioned in my main answer will be ready for the departmental board by the end of January 1997. By the end of August 1997, the work that needs to be done on costings will be done, and we expect the project to be implemented in the Department and all our systems to be compatible by the end of August 1998. We have some 18 major systems and some 1,500 small and medium-size systems. At the moment, it simply is not possible to make an estimate with any degree of credibility or accuracy. The work is under way, and as soon as those costs are available they will be made available to the House.