HC Deb 04 November 1997 vol 300 cc185-6W
Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the action plan, due by 1 October 1997, for resolving the computer millennium problem in his Department, its agencies and other public bodies for which he is responsible; if such was fully completed on time; and if he will make a statement. [13602]

Ms Jowell

Year 2000 plans covering the Department of Health were sent to the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) in October 1997. The plans and supporting documentation will be analyzed by the Central Information Technology Unit and the CCTA and their conclusions reported to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who will then inform Parliament of his findings. The plans are exempted from disclosure under the Open Government Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, prior to an announcement.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his latest estimate of the total cost of resolving the computer millennium problem in(a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) other public bodies for which he is responsible; if he will give in each case (i) expenditure incurred to date, (ii) expenditure planned for 1997– 98, (iii) expenditure planned for 1998–99 and (iv) expenditure planned for 1999–2000; and if he will make a statement. [13603]

Ms Jowell

Information on planned expenditure by the Department will be sent to the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency as a part of the action plan requested by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and as such will become available once a statement on this activity has been made to Parliament.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which(a) Minister and (b) civil servant has overall responsibility for ensuring millennium computer compliance in his Department and its associated public bodies. [13606]

Ms Jowell

The Minister responsible for ensuring Year 2000 compliance is my Noble Friend the Minister of State, Baroness Jay and the work programme within the departments is being coordinated by the head of the applications development and support who reports to a senior departmental information system steering committee on the Year 2000 issue.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department, its agencies and other public bodies for which he is responsible completed the millennium computer compliance audits of the systems; and if he will make a statement. [13605]

Ms Jowell

The Department and its Agencies have completed their millennium computer compliance audits, with the exception of National Health Service Estates who expect completion by 31 January 1998.

For each separate NHS organisation, by 31 December 1998, all critical systems should be ready and fully tested, or detailed plans made for coping with those systems or equipment that cannot be repaired or replaced in time. We will require that any trust or health authority which has not got its systems ready and fully tested should notify the Department by 31 December 1998.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on what funding provision has been made to accommodate the expenditure needed to resolve the computer millennium problem; and if he expects to have sufficient funding to pay for the work necessary to achieve complete millennium compliance by 1 January 2000. [13604]

Ms Jowell

The Department is committed to resolving any Year 2000 problems on business critical systems by the Central Information Technology Unit recommended deadline. The cost of preventative and remedial action will be met from existing financial provision.