§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding is presently committed from her departmental budget for(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–00 to resolve the year 2000 computer problem; and whether she will make a statement. [11377]
§ Clare ShortFunding committed to resolving the year 2000 problem is as follows:
1997–98
£145,000, consisting of £100,000 for purchasing assistance and £45,000 of departmental staff time working on year 2000 issues.1998–99
£65,000 of departmental staff time testing changes.1999–00
None.The Department for International Development has already commenced the task of making its corporate systems ready for the year 2000. These systems have been changed, or will be by November 1997, and changes tested by October 1998. Problems with other, smaller, departmental systems have been identified. Costs of correcting these will be met from the £100,000 in the 1997–98 budget. Estimates for external help in 1998–99 have not yet been made but they are unlikely to be significantly higher than in 1997–98.
§ Mr. BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is her estimate of total departmental expenditure on computer-related current and capital work for(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98, (d) 1998–99 and (e) 1999–00; and if she will make a statement. [11381]
§ Clare ShortThe total actual and estimated future capital and associated administration costs of computer-related work for the years in question is as follows:
recent flooding (a) for immediate relief and (b) for reconstruction; and what expert (i) military and (ii) civilian personnel Her Majesty's Government have provided. [11119]
§ Clare ShortThe UK has provided £100,000 and £60,000 in response to the floods in Poland and the Czech Republic respectively for medical supplies, food, hygiene parcels, drinking water, blankets and detergents. We have no plans for bilateral assistance towards reconstruction in the flood affected countries of central Europe.
The possible use of military and civil defence assets to assist the relief effort is being co-ordinated by the United Nations department of humanitarian affairs. Offers of UK civil support are being considered.