§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Prime Minister what action he has taken to establish an international test day for the millennium compliance of computer systems; and if he will make a statement. [72156]
§ The Prime MinisterIt is clear that testing is the cornerstone of a successful Year 2000 programme. As such all Government Departments and agencies are required to have testing strategies in place. Testing is also232W highlighted in the advice on tackling the millennium bug that Action 2000 makes available to small businesses. We have also been encouraging other countries to take testing seriously. However, decisions on the appropriate level of testing are for individual organisations to make, whether they are in the public or private sector, depending on the business risks faced if a particular system, or the interfaces between that system and other organisations, fails. In a number of sectors, there has been a co-ordinated approach to testing.
However, organising an international test day would not only be extremely difficult but might risk diverting resources away from on-going work.