§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Prime Minister if he will list the problems which have arisen in his Department 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. [60069]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 17 November 1998]: For the purpose of this answer, my office is part of the Cabinet Office.
The Cabinet Office and its agencies have well developed Year 2000 programmes in place and the necessary remedial work to correct non-compliant systems including those involving embedded chips is well advanced.
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the contingency plans drawn up by his Department in relation to problems arising from millennium compliance, including the embedded chip problem, after 31 December 1999. [60071]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 17 November 1998]: For the purpose of this answer, my office is part of the Cabinet Office.
The Cabinet Office and its agencies business continuity plans are being reviewed to ensure that they deal with any risks posed by the millennium bug.
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Prime Minister (1) what is his latest estimate of the total cost of tackling the millennium computer problem including the embedded chip problem in his Department, separately identifying expenditure to date and future expenditure; and if he will make a statement; [60068]
(2) what assessment he has made of the extent to which the computer systems in his Department will be modified and tested in relation to the millennium computer problem by January 1999; and if he will make a statement. [60070]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 17 November 1998]: For the purpose of this answer, my office is part of the Cabinet Office.
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 department and agencies progress in tackling the bug. This also covered key organisations within the wider public sector. 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 published in the Libraries of the House and on the internet.