§ Mr. Russell BrownTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress is being made in tackling the millennium computer problem within central Government. [27140]
§ Dr. David ClarkOn 27 November, I wrote to Ministerial colleagues requesting additional information on three general themes arising from the October plans: skills and resources; embedded systems; and, contingency planning. I asked for information about these points to be sent to my officials by 18 December 1997.
I am arranging for all the additional material provided by departments and agencies to be placed in the library of the House and published on the Internet.
On the question of skills and resources, the responses from departments and agencies indicate that programmes are currently assessed to be adequately resourced. Many are using outsource companies to resource the projects. Most embedded systems projects are still in the inventory or audit process. Many departments and agencies are in dialogue with the suppliers of equipment. All departments have given some consideration to contingency planning ranging from making provision within the year 2000 programmes for project overruns to full disaster recovery planning. These issues will be kept under close review as part of the reporting and monitoring process.
On 29 January, I chaired the inaugural meeting of the Ministerial Sub-Group which is monitoring and driving the action by departments and agencies to address the millennium date change problem in central Government.
404WAs I said in my statement to the House on 27 November 1997, Official Report, columns 1104–05, I intend on a regular basis to review and report to the House on central Government's progress on tackling the millennium date change problem. Work is in hand for the first review in the spring.