§ Mr. RapsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of progress on millennium compliance for the emergency services in Hampshire. [68131]
§ Mr. StrawFire and police services provide quarterly reports to Cabinet Office about progress towards Year 2000 compliance. These reports are published in summary in the Library and in detail on the Internet. The NHS Executive also publishes details of ambulance service quarterly progress reports on the Internet.
My Department monitors the progress reports from fire and police services. It is working with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Fire Services, and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Association of Chief Police Officers respectively to encourage fire brigades and police forces to take the necessary action. I understand that the NHS Executive works with ambulance trusts to ensure that their Year 2000 preparations are on course.
The latest reports from the emergency services in Hampshire give the following dates for Year 2000 compliance:
- Constabulary: March 1999
- Fire service: June 1999
- Ambulance service: Now compliant.
A programme of independent assessment of the Year 2000 preparations being made by key elements of the national infrastructure is taking place under the auspices of the National Infrastructure Forum. This is facilitated by Action 2000 and the Cabinet Office. The outcome of the assessment of the emergency services should be published in the Summer.