§ Mr. David Atkinson accordingly presented a Bill to require companies to conduct an assessment of the capability of their computer systems to deal with calendar dates after 31st December 1999; and to report both on those assessments and on the actions their directors propose to take in consequence: And the same was read the First time; and ordered to be read a Second time upon Friday 28 November, and to be printed [Bill 58].
§ Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. As one of the sponsors of the Bill proposed by the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson), and having served on the Committee stage of the previous Bill, I want to warn you not to make arrangements to be in an aircraft on new year's eve 1999 or the House of Commons could be looking for a new Speaker because the computers may have gone wrong.
Seriously, when a Member moves a very important ten-minute Bill, should not there be some Government response as soon as possible, so that, when the House returns in October, we will know the state of play on this vital subject?
§ Madam SpeakerOn the hon. Gentleman's first point, I very much appreciate his warning. I shall put it in my diary as soon as I get back to my office.
The hon. Gentleman is a long-standing Member and he knows that a ten-minute Bill is simply an application for leave to bring in a Bill. A Bill is not actually being brought in, although the public often think that it is—hon. Members are simply asking the House for leave to do so. The House has today graciously given the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson) such leave.