HC Deb 04 November 1997 vol 300 cc120-1W
Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) 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; [13572]

(2) 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 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 he will make a statement. [13573]

Mr. Straw

My Department's costed action plans will be sent to the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) this week. The plans will be analysed by the Central Information Technology Unit and CCTA and the conclusions reported to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who will then inform Parliament. The plans will be exempted from disclosure under the Open Government Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which permits non-disclosure prior to an announcement. However, once the announcement has been made the plans will be available to the public.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [13574]

Mr. Straw

My Department is proceeding on the basis that the cost of preventive and remedial action on the millennium problem will be met from existing public expenditure survey provision.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department, its agencies and other public bodies for which he is responsible completed the millennium computer compliance audits of systems; and if he will make a statement. [13575]

Mr. Straw

My Department's main information technology service provider—Sema Group—completed an audit covering the bulk of our systems in late 1996. Since then, business areas have been reviewing, updating and prioritising their inventories as part of the process of preparing their costed action plans.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which(a) Minister and (b) civil servant has overall responsibility for ensuring millennium computer compliance in his Department and its associated public bodies. [13576]

Mr. Straw

I am the Minister responsible for ensuring millennium compliance in my Department. The civil servant with responsibility for this work is the director of corporate resources.