HC Deb 24 March 1999 vol 328 cc275-6W
Mr. Chope

To ask the President of the Council which Government Departments have not yet completed initial business continuity plans for 2000. [78471]

Mrs. Beckett

I refer the hon. Member to the summary tables and quarterly returns which on 16 March I placed in the Libraries of the House following my recent quarterly statement on progress across government in tackling the bug. At that time, 18 Government Departments and Agencies had forecast completion dates for their initial business continuity plans in March or later. Of these, eight have still to complete their initial plans. They are: the Department of Trade and Industry (centre), the Radiocommunications Agency, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Debt Management Office, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Serious Fraud Office, the Public Record Office and the Fisheries Research Services.

Mr. Chope

To ask the President of the Council if she will place copies of all Government Department initial business continuity plans for 2000 in the Library. [78472]

Mrs. Beckett

Information about business continuity plans is included in the latest quarterly returns which I placed in the Libraries of the House following my recent quarterly statement on 16 March. Future quarterly returns

Income related benefits expenditure (cash terms)
£million
Scotland—by age group 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98
Total (All age groups) 2,010 2,190 2,330 2,430 2,560 2,610
Income—related benefits (15 to 25) 310 320 330 340 350 300
Income—related benefits (26 to 40) 670 730 790 840 890 920
Income—related benefits (41 to 65) 550 610 660 700 750 810

Notes:

1. Figures may not sum due to rounding.

2. Figures have been rounded to nearest £10 million.

3. Figures include expenditure on Jobseeker's Allowance (income-based), Income Support, Family Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Disabled Working Allowance.

4. They do not include smaller benefits such as Grants to Independent Living Fund, Grants to Motability and British Limbless Ex-Serviceman's Association, Earning Top Up and Social Fund Payments.

5. These benefits make up about 1.5 per cent. of all income related benefits expenditure.

Income related benefits expenditure (real terms 1998–99 prices)
£million
Scotland—by age group 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98
Total (All age groups) 2,340 2,480 2,590 2,640 2,690 2,680
Income-related benefits (15 to 25) 360 360 360 370 370 310

will provide more detail, in particular focusing on what plans are in place to ensure the continuity of essential services at the Millennium.

It is for individual Ministers to decide whether or not to publish their complete business continuity plans, according to their judgment of the nature of some of the detail involved. It would clearly be inappropriate for Ministers to publish information that is sensitive or relates to matters of national security.