§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement of progress on the millennium readiness of his Department's computer systems, and those for which it is responsible in the provision of public services; if contingency plans are in place; and what slippage has occurred since the July quarterly report to the House. [93567]
§ Mr. SpellarMy Department's Year 2000 programme is nearing completion. As reported in September, work on critical systems is almost complete and front-line systems are ready for the Millennium. Contingency plans have been developed and tested.
The Meteorological Office, which provides services to the public, reports that all of its systems are now compliant and contingency plans have been developed.
Details of MOD progress in tackling the Millennium problem are set out in our quarterly reports. These are available in the Libraries of the House and are published on the Internet. The overall MOD programme completion dates have not changed since the July report to the House.
Within this programme, two critical systems showed some slippage in their completion dates, but both of these have now been certified as compliant. A small slippage has been reported in one non-critical system.
The results of the October monthly review of progress of Government Departments and Agencies in tackling the Millennium problem are due to be announced shortly by the President of the Council.