§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contingency measures he has established against failures in millennium compliance in each emergency service. [19197]
§ Mr. Straw[holding answer 4 November 1997]: It is the responsibility of each police force and fire brigade to ensure that its information technology and communications systems are Year 2000 compliant.
The Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) is co-ordinating the police response to the millennium problem. PITO has issued a guide to the police which provides a blueprint for action and has also held two conferences this year to disseminate best practice. A national electronic police bulletin-board is regularly updated to provide on-going advice and guidance to forces. Forces are engaging their information technology (IT) suppliers to ensure their local systems will be complaint and are also writing to other organisations in their area, whose millennium compliance may be crucial to police operations, to seek assurance that those systems will be ready. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary is monitoring the progress of forces 434W during its regular inspections. The Police National Computer, which is operated by PITO, will be compliant by early 1999.
In the case of the fire service, discussions have been held with the relevant fire service committees and central guidance, in the form of a Home Office Circular, will be issued to brigades later this month. Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate will also be monitoring progress within brigades.
If, during its audit of IT systems, a force or brigade establishes that there is a problem which cannot be, or is unlikely to be resolved before the millennium, it will be expected to establish contingency plans to ensure the continued integrity of its emergency service.
I have placed a copy of the guidance issued by PITO in the Library. A copy of the Home Office circular to chief fire officers will also be placed in the Library as soon as it is published.
The contingency arrangements made by the Coastguard Agency and the ambulance service are a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and for Health respectively.