§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list those departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies who had not provided him with a completed, fully costed and prioritised plan for dealing with their millennium computer compliance problems by(a) 1 November and (b) 1 December. [21553]
§ Dr. David ClarkPlans were sought from central Government Departments and agencies, and all had responded by the time I made my statement on 27 November 1997,Official Report, column 1104–05.
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what problems to date have been encountered across government as a consequence of the millennium computer compliance problem; and if he will make a statement. [21551]
§ Dr. David ClarkI refer the hon. Member to the assessment in the statement I made to the House on 27 November. I have also written to departments asking for further information on three particularly important issues: the need to ensure that plans are not impeded by the possibility of skill shortages; the need to look at embedded chips in timing and other control devices; and, ensuring contingency plans are in place.
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the areas of the public sector for which he has responsibility for assessing and guiding the progress towards computer millennium compliance; and if he will make a statement. [21547]
§ Dr. David ClarkI am responsible for co-ordinating activity by central government departments and agencies. These are the 137 organisations listed in the Year 2000 plans which I placed in the Libraries of the House and published on the Internet following my statement to the House on 27 November.
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if millennium computer compliance problems in the public sector will be triggered on the date 9 September 1999; and if he will make a statement. [21552]
§ Dr. David ClarkThe comprehensive guidance by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency to departments and agencies explained that dates other than 1 January 2000 might affect systems. Departments and agencies are thus aware that their systems audits must take this into account.
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his oral statement on Computers and the Century Date Change of 27 November,Official Report, column 1104, what margin of error is attached to the £370 million total cost estimated; and if this figure includes expenditure on resolving the embedded chip problem in all Government Departments. [21548]
§ Dr. David ClarkI refer the hon. Member to the statement I made to the House on 27 November. I indicated that I would be monitoring progress being made by departments and agencies. That will include any amendments to their cost estimates.
I also wrote on that day to colleagues about a number of follow-up issues, including the need to ensure that all plans properly addressed the embedded chip issue.
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§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the dates in 1998 on which he intends to make his quarterly statement updating progress in dealing with the millennium computer compliance problem in the public sector; and if he will make a statement. [21550]
§ Dr. David ClarkI intend to report progress in dealing with the millennium computer compliance problem in Government Departments and agencies to the House on a quarterly basis, starting in spring 1998.
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his policy on the final date by which millennium computer compliance across the public sector should be completed; and if he will make a statement. [21546]
§ Dr. David ClarkI would refer the hon. Member of the statement I made to the House on 27 November. The guidance to departments and agencies makes clear that account should be taken of dates other than 1 January 2000 which might affect systems.