§ Mr. WhiteTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what support the Government are giving to small businesses to deal with the threat of Year 2000 computer bugs. [39795]
§ Mrs. Roche[holding answer 6 May 1998]: This Government's support to small businesses to help them deal with the Millennium Bug falls under two headings: informed advice, guidance and signposting to sources of help through DTI's new initiative—Action 2000—and a Department for Education and Employment scheme to subsidise training in IT skills for staff of small businesses.
Government support for Action 2000 now amounts to £17m. The main focus of the Millennium Bug campaign is on ensuring that small businesses take action now to address the problem by signposting practical help and guidance and available information on tools and services. DTI's network of Business Links and similar organisations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, working with Action 2000, are training staff to provide advice to businesses, including advice on the best programmes and consultants to use.
In March, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced that £26m was being made available for DfEE to help employers in small businesses train up to 20,000 people to tackle the Millennium Bug.