§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration is being given by the European Union to the consequences of the failure of computer and safety systems controlling nuclear plants in the former eastern bloc to be millennium compliant. [28246]
§ Mr. FatchettThe failure of a computer system would not directly affect the safety of any nuclear reactor power plants in the former eastern bloc. The control of these plants is carried out by analogue or electro-mechanical means. However, computers are used for data recording and plant management purposes, and the European Union has a programme to up-grade a number of these. The Health and Safety Executive publication "Safety and the year 2000" has been sent to the senior nuclear regulators in the former eastern bloc and it will form the basis of discussion at a meeting of these regulators with their EU counterparts in June 1998.