Millennium Compliance (Hansard, 16 November 1998)

§ Mr. Redwood
To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on the progress made by the Government in ensuring that the UK deals with potential millennium bug problems. [59670]

§ Mrs. Beckett
I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Garston (Maria Eagle) on 21 October 1998,Official Report, column 1109. The results of the next quarterly review will be announced shortly to this House and the updates to quarterly plans will be placed in the libraries of the House and on the Internet.

§ Mr. Redwood
To ask the President of the Council what action the Government have taken to ensure that essential facilities in public services are millennium compliant. [59221]

§ Mrs. Beckett
The Prime Minister has set up a Ministerial Group, which I chair, supported by a dedicated Year 2000 team in the Cabinet Office, to drive forward action across the private and public sectors to ensure that the delivery of essential public services is not materially disrupted by the failure of electronic systems as a result of the Millennium bug.
The Government have put in place a centralised monitoring programme to review the progress that departments and agencies and key organisations within the wider public sector are making in tackling the bug. All departmental returns are reviewed, and any areas of concern are followed up with the relevant department. The Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency provide detailed advice and guidance to departments on tackling the Bug.
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We have also set up through Action 2000 a National Infrastructure Forum. The Forum brings together the major providers and users of infrastructure services to share best practice and compliance information. As a key part of the work of the Forum, Action 2000 is leading an Independent Assessment Project to assess the progress made by key service providers in achieving Millennium compliance.

§ Mr. Redwood
To ask the President of the Council what contingency plans the Government have made in respect of problems with essential public services. [59222]

§ Mrs. Beckett
Legislation provides for contingency plans to be drawn up to deal with civil emergencies in key utilities such as water, gas, and electricity and these arrangements are already in place.
All central government departments and agencies have been asked to have initial year 2000 contingency plans in place by January 1999. Departments will be required to develop and update these plans as their own year 2000 programmes mature and as more information about the compliance of their suppliers and key infrastructure service providers becomes available.
We are also funding Action 2000 to run an Independent Assessment Project to evaluate the Year 2000 readiness efforts of key service providers. This includes assessment of contingency planning.