HC Deb 18 December 1997 vol 303 cc260-1W
Mr. David Atkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the potential public order consequences of the year 2000 problem. [20973]

Mr. Michael

It is for individual chief police officers to ensure that their computer controlled systems are Year 2000 compliant. They are currently assessing the scale of the problem and taking action where appropriate, with help from the Police Information Technology Organisation. Police forces are also pursuing Year 2000 compliance with other bodies responsible for systems whose failure might have policing implications. Failure to comply could seriously affect police forces' functioning and could lead to additional calls on their services in a range of areas.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what millennium compliance have occurred to date in his(a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) other public bodies; and if he will make a statement. [21563]

Mr. Straw

A small number of millennium compliance problems have occurred in my Department affecting management information, statistical and payroll data. These problems have been quickly resolved. No problems have occurred in either agencies or other public bodies.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department's estimates of the total costs of resolving the millennium compliance problem include costs relating to the embedded chip problem; and if he will make a statement. [21564]

Mr. Straw

My Department's estimates of the total costs of resolving the millennium compliance problem do include costs relating to the embedded chip problem.