§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the functions, bodies or units not covered by the £200 million estimated cost of dealing with the millennium computer problem in his Department and its associated public bodies; if this estimate covers the cost of dealing with the problem as it affects front-line military units; if it includes provision for dealing with the embedded chip problem; and if he will make a statement; [21541]
(2) what estimate he has made of the moneys which will be made available to his Department from the contingency reserve to ensure millennium computer compliance in the United Kingdom armed forces; [21543]
(3) what margin of error is associated with his Department's estimate of a £200 million total cost for resolving the millennium computer problem; and if he will make a statement; [21542]
(4) if he will give a breakdown of the £200 million cost of resolving the millennium computer problem in his Department and related bodies to show the estimated expenditure necessary, broken down by each agency or center. [21540]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 18 December 1997]: The £200 million estimated as the cost to MOD of addressing the millennium problem covers costs associated with tackling the problem in the Department and its associated public bodies. It includes dealing with the problem as it affects front line units and provision for dealing with the embedded chip problem. The figure is based on estimates associated with Year 2000 tasks which have been assessed and for which costed plans have been produced. However the number, scope and complexity of systems to be checked within Defence means that the figures are still being refined.
139WIn estimating the costs, contingency sums are included to cover unforeseen difficulties. The margin of error included for each system will depend on its complexity and the associated risk of finding that there is more to correct than originally estimated.
The Department's internal plans represent projections and assumptions which inform advice to Ministers on the affordability of particular parts of the Defence programme. Accordingly I am withholding information requested on the breakdown of costs associated with the millennium computer problem under exemption two of the Code of Practice on Access to Government information.
Funds to meet the projected costs are being allocated on the assumption that no additional money will be available from the contingency reserve.
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what existing problems have been encountered in(a) his Department and (b) public bodies under the responsibility of his Department and (c) the armed forces as a consequence of the millennium computer problem; and if he will make a statement; [21539]
(2) what assessment he has made of the extent to which the operational military effectiveness of the United Kingdom armed forces is likely to be impaired by the millennium computer problem; and if he will make a statement. [21544]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 18 December 1997]: Millennium date change problems have already been identified and are being addressed in a number of operational and administrative computer systems across the Department, the Armed Forces and Non-Departmental Public Bodies.(NDPBs).
Within the programme established within MOD to address the year 2000 date change problem, priority is given to the rectification of those systems which could affect safety or operational effectiveness.