HC Deb 25 March 1999 vol 328 cc407-8W
Mr. Chope

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reason no external assessment has been made of the plans of his Department for millennium compliance; and if he will make a statement. [78467]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 24 March 1999]: My Department's millennium programme comprises several parallel projects, co-ordinated by a central programme management team in the IT Directorate. Several projects, and the central team, have employed external consultants to review plans and progress. Currently, external consultants are reviewing MAFF's business continuity planning arrangements (in case some problems still occur, despite all our preparatory activity), and an independent review is being conducted by MAFF's Audit, Consultancy and Management Services division. I am satisfied that these arrangements provide for adequate external and independent review of plans.