HC Deb 09 February 1998 vol 306 cc88-9W
Mr. David Atkinson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the nature of the service to callers using the Action 2000 telephone hotline to obtain advice on millennium compliance of computer systems. [27876]

Mrs. Roche

The "Millennium Bug" campaign telephone hotline is run for Action 2000 by ICL Sorbus. The service is currently equipped to despatch Information Packs and direct callers to centres of expertise where they can obtain help and support. Plans are underway to increase the breadth of information available and provide on-line advice and guidance specific to a caller's needs.

Mr. David Atkinson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she is taking to ensure that public sector computer systems involved in the introduction of European Monetary Union are millennium compliant. [25376]

Mrs. Roche

[holding answer 4 February 1998]: The Government attach major importance to tackling this problem effectively. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has set up a Ministerial Group on the millennium date change (MISC 4) to drive action across the public and private sectors to ensure that the national infrastructure is not damaged by the failure of electronic systems related to the year 2000 date change.

This objective applies to all public sector computer systems, including those which may be affected by Economic and Monetary Union.

Mr. David Atkinson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has during the British presidency of the EU to propose the suspension or postponement until after 2001 of EU directives which would impede progress on the implementation of the action necessary to ensure the millennium compliancy of computer systems. [27879]

Mrs. Roche

I have no such plans at present, but propose to undertake a study which would enable the Government to assess the extent to which work on the millennium bug and other major tasks will absorb the skilled people available.

Mr. David Atkinson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what controls her Department has on the use of the Action 2000 millennium computer compliance logo; and if she will make a statement. [27874]

Mrs. Roche

This scheme is the responsibility of Action 2000.

Mr. David Atkinson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if her Department's initiatives to encourage awareness and action to ensure the millennium compliancy of computer systems take account of 2000 being a leap year; and if she will make a statement. [27880]

Mrs. Roche

Yes, for example, the leap year issue is picked up in the advice and good practice material disseminated by Action 2000. This directs people looking for more detailed information on this topic to specify advice from the Computing Services and Software Association, the British Standards Institute, the British Computer Society and the National Computing Centre.

Mr. David Atkinson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures have been introduced to indicate the millennium compliance of computer products for sale; and if they are subject to independent certification. [27877]

Mrs. Roche

Action 2000 is devising a scheme based on a Millennium Safe logo. I understand that no decision has been taken on whether it would involve independent certification.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many times the Ministerial Committee on the year 2000 computer problem has met. [25373]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding answer 4 February 1998]: In accordance with long standing practice, information about proceedings of the Cabinet and Cabinet Committee is not made public.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps will be taken to prevent the Millennium Safe logo being used by businesses which are not millennium compliant. [27817]

Mrs. Roche

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: This is a matter for Action 2000.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what checks will be made on businesses before Millennium Safe logos are issued to them for use on their products. [27819]

Mrs. Roche

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: This is an issue which I understand to be under consideration by Action 2000.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what organisation is issuing the Millennium Safe logo; and how many have so far been issued. [27818]

Mrs. Roche

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: The logo scheme is the responsibility of Action 2000. I understand that the precise operation of the scheme has not yet been finalised.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the President of the Board of Trade upon what basis the Millennium Safe logo will be issued to businesses. [27816]

Mrs. Roche

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: This is a matter for Action 2000. I understand that it is discussing the operation of the scheme with the Consumers Association.