§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Prime Minister if he will establish a central contingency fund which Government departments may draw on to address the millennium computer compliance problem. [27285]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 3 February 1998]: Each department must find the funds required from within its own budget.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Prime Minister if he will give overall responsibility for overseeing the millennium computer compliance problem in both the private and public sector to one Minister. [27284]
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§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 3 February 1998]: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has responsibility for overseeing the millennium computer compliance problem in central Government systems. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has set up Action 2000 to help turn awareness into action in the private sector. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade also chairs a Cabinet Committee to drive action across the public and private sectors to ensure that the national infrastructure is not damaged.
§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Prime Minister what advice has been issued to strategic industries and Government departments on drawing up contingency plans in the event of the failure of computer systems to be millennium compliant; and if he will make a statement. [27869]
§ The Prime MinisterThis is one of the issues which is being discussed by the Ministerial Group on the Millennium Date Change. With regard to contingency planning by Government departments I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Mr. Brown) on 30 January 1998,Official Report, columns 403–04.