Millennium Compliance (Hansard, 8 July 1998)

§ 17. Mr. David Atkinson
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to make his next quarterly report on the millennium compliance of computer systems in central Government. [47935]

§ Dr. David Clark
The next quarterly report is due in September. As this will fall during the summer recess, I propose to write to all hon. Members during the recess to report the results. I will also arrange for all relevant information to be placed in the Library of the House and published on the Internet.

§ 23. Mr. Nicholas Winterton
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made in the co-ordination of a strategy to combat the threat of year 2000 computer bugs. [47941]

§ Dr. David Clark
A Ministerial Group, which is chaired by the President of the Board of Trade, has been set up to drive forward action across the private and public sectors to ensure that the national infrastructure is not damaged by the failure of electronic systems as a result of the Millennium date change. I chair a sub-group which is responsible for co-ordinating and driving action in tackling the Millennium bug problem across central government and the wider public sector.
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§ 27. Mr. Ben Chapman
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he has taken to address the millennium bug problem as it affects central Government. [47946]

§ Dr. David Clark
I chair the Ministerial sub-group which is responsible for co-ordinating and driving forward action to tackle the millennium bug problem within central government and across the wider public sector. I have initiated a system of quarterly reviews to monitor the progress that has been made in tackling the problem in central government departments and agencies. The latest review also included information on the wider public sector. My statement to the House on 8 June 1998,Official Report, columns 716–18, summarised the results. Future statements will cover key elements of the wider public sector in more detail. I am following up concerns highlighted by the latest review with the Departments concerned. Copies and summaries of the completed questionnaires from Departments, and their reports on wider public sector bodies, have been placed in the libraries of both Houses and published on the Internet.