HC Deb 04 November 1997 vol 300 cc189-90W
Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will publish the action plan, due by 1 October 1997, for resolving the computer millennium problem in her Department, its agencies and other public bodies for which she is responsible; if such was fully completed on time; and if she will make a statement. [13612]

Mr. Keith Bradley

The costed action plan produced by the Department of Social Security was submitted to Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) on 30 September 1997. This plan, together with the plans of other Government Departments, will be analysed by Central Information Technology Unit (CITU) and the CCTA and the conclusions reported to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, who will then inform Parliament. The plans will be exempted from

£000
Total cost Cost to date 1997–981 1998— 99 1999–00
Benefits Agency 7,326 533 2,574 4,181 571
Contributions Agency 3,107 87 708 1,974 335
Child Support Agency 3,442 42 1,744 1,656 42
Information Technology Services Agency 26,861 40 6,801 10,562 9,498
War Pensions Agency 279 22 32 242 5
Headquarters 3,469 211 94 2,456 919
ISBs/NDPB 261 14 91 170 —
Central Project costs 1,037 491 594 239 204
Departmental Totals 45,692 1,440 12,638 21,480 11,574
1 Total expenditure for the year which includes seven months costs to date.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on what funding provision has been made to accommodate the expenditure needed to resolve the computer millennium problem; and if she expects to have sufficient funding to pay for the work necessary to achieve complete millennium compliance by 1 January 2000. [13614]

Mr. Keith Bradley

This work has been afforded the highest priority across the Department. Business Cases to secure the necessary funds from existing PES provision have been produced and a Corporate Business Case seeking approval to spend will be submitted to HM Treasury in November 1997.

disclosure under the open government code of practice on access to Government information, which permits non-disclosure prior to an announcement. Once the announcement has been made the plans will be available.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when her Department, its agencies and other public bodies for which she is responsible completed the millennium computer compliance audits of systems; and if she will make a statement. [13615]

Mr. Keith Bradley

The year 2000 compliance audit of the Department's systems, comprising its agencies and other public bodies, was completed by 31 March 1997.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which(a) Minister and (b) civil servant has overall responsibility for ensuring millennium computer compliance in her Department and its associated public bodies. [13616]

Mr. Keith Bradley

I have ministerial responsibility for the year 2000 compliance work and Mr. Ian Magee, the chief executive of the Information Technology Services Agency, is the civil servant accountable for this work on behalf of the Department of Social Security, reporting to the departmental board and the permanent secretary.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is her latest estimate of the total cost of resolving the computer millennium problem in(a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) other public bodies for which she is responsible; if she will state 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 she will make a statement. [13613]

Mr. Keith Bradley

The information is in the table.