HC Deb 18 November 1998 vol 319 cc596-7W
Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what assessment he has made of the extent to which the computer systems in(a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) other public bodies to which his Department is responsible will be modified and tested in relation to the millennium computer problem by January 1999; and if he will make a statement; [60128]

(2) what is his latest estimate of the total cost of tackling the millennium computer problem including the embedded chip problem in (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) other public bodies for which his Department is responsible, separately identifying expenditure to date and future expenditure; and if he will make a statement. [60126]

Mr. Chris Smith

[holding answer 17 November 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Council to my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Garston (Maria Eagle) on 21 October 1998, Official Report, column 1109, in which she announced the results of the latest quarterly review of Government Departments' and Agencies' progress in tackling the bug. This also covered key organisations within the wider public sector including the BBC. The information the hon. Member requests will be found in the copies of Departments' plans which have been published in the Libraries of the House. The results of the next quarterly review will be announced shortly to the House and the updates to quarterly plans will be placed in the Libraries of the House and on the internet.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the contingency plans drawn up by(a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) other public bodies in relation to problems arising from millennium compliance including the embedded chip problem after 31 December 1999. [60129]

Mr. Chris Smith

[holding answer 17 November 1998]: My Department is in the process of drawing up contingency plans in the event of problems arising from the millennium bug. My Permanent Secretary is in touch with all our sponsored bodies, both agencies and other public bodies, about this matter.

An assessment of all the embedded systems in DCMS' buildings has been undertaken. Only one system has been found to be non-complaint and that has been replaced with an updated Year 2000 compliant system.

All DCMS sponsored bodies have given assurances that this matter is incorporated in their Year 2000 compliance work.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the problems which have arisen in(a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) other public bodies for which his Department is responsible from millennium compliance; if he will make a statement on progress to date in tackling such problems; and what are the priority areas for remedial work. [60127]

Mr. Chris Smith

[holding answer 17 November 1998]: My Department has completed over 75 per cent. of its Year 2000 compliance work. To date, no significant problems have been found. An assessment of all the embedded systems in DCMS' buildings has been undertaken. Only one system has been found to be non-compliant and that has been replaced with an updated Year 2000 compliant system.

Problems arising in DCMS' sponsored bodies compliance work are not collated centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost. However, quarterly progress statements supplied by our sponsored bodies can be found on DCMS' website (www.culture.gov.uk).

Mr. Chope

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the conclusions of Taskforce 2000 published on 11 November in respect of his Department's most recent quarterly return on plans and progress towards Year 2000 readiness. [60221]

Mr. Chris Smith

I have noted the Taskforce 2000 report. My Department expects to be fully Year 2000 compliant by March 1999. The compliance programme has also been audited by my Department's internal auditors.

The results of the next quarterly review will be announced shortly to the House and copies of DCMS' latest quarterly return will be placed in the Library and published on the Internet.