HC Deb 26 June 1997 vol 296 c614W
Mr. Nigel Jones

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will issue guidelines to trading standards departments giving advice on dealing with personal computers which are not millennium-compliant; and if she will make a statement. [5372]

Mr. Battle

The Century Date Change is a particularly serious issue, but I do not believe that issuing specific advice to trading standards departments is necessary.

The DTI is already taking steps to ensure that businesses and the general public are aware of the problem which has been extensively covered in the media. DTI's Information Pack on the problem already sets out general advice and sources of help.

It is for a well informed, individual purchaser to decide for himself what he needs in his own particular case. As for any other hardware or software supply issue, the details of conformability and performance are best covered in a discussion or specification and agreed by commercial negotiation. The law already provides a remedy for the purchaser of defective goods under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 and for services under the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, and I see no need for further measures.

Mr. Jones

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to issue a list of millennium-compliant personal computers; and if she will make a statement. [5370]

Mr. Battle

The Century Date Change problem is a particularly serious issue, but I do not believe that to issue a list of millennium-compliant Personal Computers is the right way forward.

The IT supply industry are already well aware of the problem and many have declared the status of the products through both the media and their trade association, The Computing Services and Software Association, who maintain a "Directory of Organisations with Specialist Year 2000 Services and Products".

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