Millennium Date Change

HC Deb 05 November 1996 vol 284 cc438-9W

Mr. Ingram

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the cost of effects of the millennium date change on the computer systems operated by his Department. [2604]

Mr. Howard

My Department is aware of the problem. The Department's information technology service provider, Sema group, has produced the report to which I referred in my previous reply on 17 June 1996,Official Report, column 302. The business areas in my Department have been considering the report and are now entering into discussions with suppliers on action plans, taking into account other developments and the likelihood of systems still being in place at the time of the millennium date change. As the plans are developed, costs will be assessed.