Departmental Computer Systems (Hansard, 2 June 1997)

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has for the reprogramming of computers and technical equipment in Government departments to address the year 2000 problem. [1449]
18W

§ Mr. Kilfoyle
This is essentially the responsibility of individual departments. However my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has recently written to all ministerial heads of Department to ensure that they are aware of the arrangements which exist for dealing with the year 2000 date change problem.
From within the Cabinet Office (OPS) departments are supported by the Central Information Technology Unit (CITU) and the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA). As part of that support CITU and CCTA have identified a programme of action to ensure that the Government's response to the year 2000 problem is co-ordinated and coherent. This involves each department in producing a detailed and costed action plan by October to ensure that all their systems are modified and tested by January 1999.
The recent National Audit Office report, "Managing the Millennium Threat", demonstrated that the public sector was doing as well as the private sector in tackling the problem, however, there is no room for complacency.

§ Mr. Nigel Jones
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to ensure that civil servants take all steps necessary to ensure that Government computer systems are millennium compliant; and if he will make a statement. [1232]

§ Mr. Kilfoyle
It is the responsibility of individual departments to ensure that their computer systems are millennium compliant. Departments are satisfied that they have sufficiently skilled staff to tackle the problem.
Departments are supported from the Cabinet Office (OPS) by the Central Information Technology Unit (CITU) and the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA). As part of that support CITU and CCTA have identified a programme of action to ensure that Government's response to the year 2000 problem is co-ordinated and coherent and that all systems are modified and tested by January 1999.
The CCTA has also produced a six volume set of guides covering every aspect of starting, managing and successfully implementing a full year 2000 compliance programme. The set, called "Tackling the Year 2000", forms the most detailed impartial guidance available to date.
The recent report by the National Audit Office, "Managing the Millennium Threat", shows that the public sector had work well underway to deal with the millennium date change.