§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his 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. [7132]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Ministry of Defence programme for dealing with the Year 2000 Computer Problem is led by the Director General Information and Communication Services (DGICS). The programme complies with guidelines issued by the Cabinet Office and CCTA Year 2000 Public Sector Group which call for costed programmes to modify or replace affected systems to be in place by October of this year with all work on critical systems completed by 31 December 1998. DGICS heads a coordination group of MOD Top Level Budget Holders to direct the programme. Projet managers have been appointed throughout the Department to oversee work on systems in their respective areas of responsibility. A Year 2000 awareness campaign has been mounted and private sector computing assistance is being provided to Year 2000 projects. It is too early to say what the final costs might be, but work to identify and cost the necessary remedial measures is on schedule to be completed by534W October, when the results will be reported to the Cabinet Office in accordance with the overall Government timetable.