§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what reasons underlay the selection of publications to be recommended by her Department's Millennium Hotline, with particular reference to "Year 2000 Solutions for Dummies"; and if her Department requested royalties in respect of the publications recommended. [26785]
§ Mrs. Beckett[holding answer 2 February 1998]: Action 2000 is responsible for the operation of the Millennium Bug hotline, but I understand that the process of deciding what information to provide callers is steered by a group of independent experts, drawn from a range of user industries, professional bodies and independent business support organisations. Action 2000 aims to provide a list of best in breed publications, training modules and signposts to other sources of help/information.
Action 2000 did not seek royalties. Its primary concern is that businesses should have access to information as rapidly as possible.