§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the computer systems used by the emergency services in Wales will be millennium compliant by 31 December 1998. [39895]
§ Mr. Win GriffithsI refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her today by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary who has responsibility for some of the emergency services on an England and Wales basis. I will reply on the NHS Ambulance Trust and acute trusts in Wales.
The Ambulance Trust and acute trusts providing accident and emergency services, in line with other NHS organisations, are making every effort to ensure their computer systems are millennium compliant by 31 December 1998. In particular, ambulance command and control systems have been given a very high priority in determining their compliance status and in undertaking the necessary replacements or upgrades. However, in some cases, it may not be possible to complete the latter until the first quarter of 1999.