HC Deb 08 July 1997 vol 297 cc411-2W
Mr. David Atkinson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on her Department's timetable for dealing with the Year 2000 Computer Problem; who is in charge of the project; how many staff are working on it; what is the projected cost of resolving the problem; and whether the project is on schedule. [7141]

Mrs. Roche

Following an impact assessment study in 1996, a programme of remedial projects and related activities was initiated earlier this year. The total cost is expected to be of the order of £2.7 million over the period to Spring 1999. The programme covers the core Department's IT systems and separate programmes are in place to deal with the issue in Next Steps agencies.

The core Department's Year 2000 programme is being overseen by a steering goup chaired by the Department's Director of information Management and Technology. The resources involved vary according to the requirements of individual projects and will peak at 16 personnel in September/October 1997. Those resources are being provided by private sector contractors and the programme is being supervised by the Department's own Project Manager. All required parts of the core programme are currently on schedule.