§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contingency plans her Department is making in the event of the failure of computer systems to recognise the year 2000; when she expects them to be in place, and tested; and if she will make a statement. [48839]
§ Clare ShortThe Department for International Development (DFID) is working on making its business critical computer systems year 2000 compliant. The testing of the systems will start in September and is due to be completed by end-March 1999. The testing will be subject to Internal Audit certification. The outcome of the testing will provide DF1D business managers the opportunity to decide on the degree and extent of 353W contingency arrangements that need to be made for their own systems. An earlier start to contingency planning would be premature and possibly nugatory.