§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement of progress on the millennium readiness of his Department's computer systems, and those for which it is responsible in the provision of public services; if contingency plans are in place; and what slippage has occurred since the July Quarterly report to the House. [93562]
§ Mr. BattleDetails of the Department's progress in tackling the bug are set out in our quarterly monitoring returns. These are available in the Libraries of the House and are published on the internet. The results of the October monthly review of progress of Government departments and agencies in tackling the bug are due to be announced shortly by the President of the Council. It will show that the Department's business critical systems will be compliant by 31 October as scheduled and that work on non critical systems is well advanced. The Foreign and Commonwealth Business Continuity Plan and Millennium Operating Plan will also both be completed and tested by 31 October on schedule. All our posts have prepared and tested their own Business Continuity Plans.