§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he notifies potential purchasers of obsolete information technology equipment sold by his Department that such equipment may not be millennium compliant. [25655]
§ Mr. MilburnWhen it is decided to sell redundant computer equipment that no longer meets the Department's business requirements, companies are invited to bid. The letter of invitation gives the companies the opportunity to inspect the equipment beforehand and204W makes it clear that it is sold "as seen" with no guarantee that it is fit for any particular purpose. The same approach is adopted within the Department's agencies.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 16 Janaury 1998,Official Report, column 368, how many (a) kidney dialysis machines, (b) intensive care cots for premature babies and (c) intensive care units cannot be repaired or replaced before 31 December 1999. [25659]
§ Mr. MilburnAn indication of those devices that are potentially affected by the Year 2000 problem will become available in April 1998 when individual site inventories are complete. Information as to which devices are not actually compliant will come mainly from the device manufacturers and in many cases this will not be available until after April 1998.