§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [60117]
§ Mr. SpellarConsiderable progress is being made with a programme to ensure that MOD and Defence Agencies' critical computer systems and equipment with embedded chips are rectified before the millennium and other critical dates. In addition, contingency plans for critical systems are being developed where necessary. In terms of wider contingency planning for the millennium problem, long-standing arrangements exist under which local authorities can request military assistance, for example in the case of a civil emergency or natural disaster.
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest assessment of the risks to UK Defence readiness in 1999–2000 from the(a) millennium computer problem and (b) embedded chip problem; and if he will make a statement. [59951]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 17 November 1998]: The assessment of the risk to UK Defence readiness is performed by relating Defence capabilities to the computer systems and embedded chips which support them. A programme is in place to correct as a priority those critical systems the failure of which could adversely affect Defence capabilities. Where we see risks that programme slippage may occur, contingency plans are being produced. The overall programme is designed to ensure that Defence readiness will not be compromised.
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) 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; [60114]
(2) what is his latest estimate of the cost of resolving (a) the millennium computer problem and (b) the embedded chip problem, for the United Kingdom's armed forces; how much of this total has been spent to date; and if he will make a statement; [59950]
637W(3) 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. [60116]
§ Mr. SpellarI 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 review also covered key organisations within the wider public sector. In the Ministry of Defence, it covered all Defence agencies, including the Meteorological Office, the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency and the Hydrographic Agency. The information the hon. Member requests is available in the Departments' plans, copies of which are available in the Library 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 Library of the House and on the Internet.
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [60115]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 17 November 1998]: The Ministry of Defence has had a Year 2000 programme in place since early 1996. The programme is complex, with over 20,000 computer based systems to be evaluated. Priority is being given to finding solutions to those systems that pose a high risk to defence capability, and to obtaining assurances of millennium compliance from our suppliers. Progress by the MOD and other Government Departments was reported by my right hon. Friend the President of the Council to the House on 21 October 1998, Official Report, column 1109. A further progress report will be announced in the House in the near future.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [60219]
§ Mr. SpellarTaskforce 2000 have correctly recognised the scale of the problem facing the Ministry of Defence and the capability of our programme managers. To counter the millennium problem we have put in place a comprehensive assessment and rectification programme, including638W external audit of our processes, and considerable progress has been made. We are monitoring expenditure closely and believe that our cost estimate for the programme remains realistic. The principal objective of our programme is to identify and manage any risks to Defence capability arising from the millennium problem.
The results of the next quarterly review will be announced shortly and copies of the department's latest quarterly return will be placed in the Library of the House and published on the internet.