§ Mr. GorrieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his Department's current estimate of the cost to be borne by Scottish local authorities on spending to cope with the problem of the date 2000 on computers in(a) 1998–99 and (b) 1999–2000 and of the contribution from central Government towards meeting these costs. [56961]
§ Mr. McLeishThere is no central estimate of the total cost to local government. It is for each local authority to form its own estimate of cost and to consider how costs are to be met within the funds available. The priority is to ensure that every authority is in fact tackling the issue. To that end, the Scottish Office is funding a post of Year 2000 project manager in COSLA. In addition, and as a result of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review, £10 million has been included in the 1999–2000 local government finance settlement. No provision was made in 1998–99.