HC Deb 29 March 1999 vol 328 cc728-9
45. Mr. Brian White (Milton Keynes, North-East)

What assessment she has made of the preparedness of (a) Government Departments and (b) the wider public sector in dealing with millennium compliance problems. [77416]

The Parliamentary Secretary, Privy Council Office (Mr. Paddy Tipping)

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Garston (Maria Eagle).

Mr. White

Given that programmes dealing with the financing of 2000 will be running by Wednesday night, will my hon. Friend assure the House that the monthly reports that are due out very shortly will begin to include contingency plans that are built on the excellent work that the Government have already done?

Mr. Tipping

I assure my hon. Friend, who has taken a very close personal interest in this matter, that the Government are engaged actively on this issue. Contingency plans are being made. As he knows, monthly statements to the House will begin to be made in the very near future.