§ 51. Dr. Stephen Ladyman (South Thanet)What arrangements she has made for the discharging of the Government's responsibilities over the millennium holiday period. [101270]
§ The Parliamentary Secretary, Privy Council Office (Mr. Paddy Tipping)The Government will be operating a millennium centre from 31 December to 7 January. The centre will provide briefings to Ministers and the media. All Departments and agencies have in place robust and tested business continuity plans and millennium operating regimes. As part of its MOR, each Department was required to identify the services to be delivered over the millennium period and has put in place measures to ensure that those services are delivered.
§ Dr. LadymanI congratulate the Government on that initiative. Will my hon. Friend join me in thanking those who will operate that centre over the millennium period? Will he also thank all who will be providing emergency services over the same period? Will he assure me that they will be told that the only other meridian in the world is the Ramsgate meridian, that Ramsgate mean time is five minutes 41 seconds ahead of Greenwich mean time, and that therefore our celebrations—and any problems associated with the millennium—will be starting that much sooner in Ramsgate?
§ Mr. TippingI always knew that my hon. Friend was ahead of the field, although I thought it was by longer 149 than five minutes. I want to associate myself with his comments, with regard not just to those working in the millennium centre, but to the doctors and nurses working in the NHS, the police, the remaining emergency services and a range of people across the utilities and in the retail sector who are there to ensure that we can remember this millennium for all the right reasons.
§ Mr. David Heath (Somerton and Frome)May I associate myself with those sentiments? Can the Minister also assure our diplomatic and military personnel posted 150 overseas that they will be able to work independently of the local conditions pertaining over the holiday period and will still be able to do the job that we expect them to do?
§ Mr. TippingA great deal of work has gone into this issue. We are determined to ensure that our overseas businesses and nationals have the right support during the millennium period. We have planned and made arrangements as far as is possible, but some embassies will be dependent on sources of supply that are outside our control. However, even for those cases, contingency plans have been made.