§ Mr. GaleTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the cost of the audit for millennium compliance purposes of the computer systems used in container ships, and at container ports and freight depots. [49449]
§ Ms Glenda Jackson[holding answer 7 July 1998]: I have been asked to reply.
The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions is very concerned about the issue of millennium compliance and has brought it to the attention of the UK shipping and ports industries through their respective trade associations.
I am aware that the Chamber of Shipping has issued advice to its members, and that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has also published guidance on the need to identify and test critical equipment and systems. Operators are also being advised to develop operational arrangements to mitigate the effect of any system failure.
Of course, any audit of computer systems for millennium compliance purposes would be a matter for individual companies. We therefore do not have any information on the likely costs of such an exercise.