§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [7136]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyThe individual Departments within the Northern Ireland Civil Service, together with the Northern Ireland Office, have their own programmes of action to overcome the Year 2000 problem and these are being progressed. Northern Ireland Departments are following the guidance issued recently by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency within OPS. They are working towards a deadline of 1 December 1997 to have fully costed and prioritised plans in place. Accurate figures for the work therefore will be available towards the end of the year.