§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many officials, and at what grade, are working on millennium compliance issues. [23616]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe Department has established a Year 2000 Programme led by the Information Technology Services Agency (ITSA) to co-ordinate the extensive activity across the Department. The Departmental Board, chaired by the Permanent Secretary, is receiving regular reports on progress. An ITSA Director (a senior civil servant) leads the work, reporting to the ITSA Chief Executive who chairs the Project Steering Group. There is a Programme Manager (Unified Grade 6) and a core team of five staff (two SEOs, one HEO and two EOs).
As part of this programme, there are, in addition, a network of Year 2000 teams across all areas of the Department working towards compliance. For some staff Year 2000 is a specific responsibility; for many others it is a priority activity within their normal work area.
Table 1: Level of basic pension for men and wormen on earnings levels shown—uprated in line with prices but expressed in 1997–98 prices. Amounts expressed as proportion of national average earnings Average full-time earnings Men Average full-time earnings Women Half average full-time earnings Men Half average full-time earnings Women £ Per cent. £ Per cent. £ Per cent. £ Per cent. 1997–98 62.45 16.7 62.45 16.7 62.45 16.7 62.45 16.7 2015–16 62.45 12.8 62.45 12.8 62.45 12.8 62.45 12.8 2025–26 62.45 11.0 62.45 11.0 62.45 11.0 62.45 11.0 2035–36 62.45 9.5 62.45 9.5 62.45 9.5 62.45 9.5