Millennium bug 'priority for health trusts'

The threat posed by the millennium bug is the top non-clinical priority for health service chiefs, a minister has told the Commons.

Public service minister Dr David Clark made an appeal to other public service bodies such as health service trusts and local councils to publish their strategies for tackling the bug.

Warning there was not much time left, he said: "It is a matter of concern to this House that the public sector continues to operate efficiently."

He was making a statement on progress made by his special Cabinet millennium bug team.

Remit widened

The group is aiming to prevent potential chaos being caused by computers within government departments failing to recognise the date when it changes to the year 2000.

Its remit has also been widened to include public organisations, Dr Clark announced.

But he also admitted that questionnaires sent to organisations and departments revealed that some NHS trusts have not adequately planned how to tackle the bug.

Dr Clark said he had written to the NHS chief executive.

"We are putting as much pressure as we can on the NHS to make sure that those who haven't done enough do do better," he told MPs.

"Feeble and cautious prevarication"

But shadow trade minister John Redwood said the Government was suffering the consequences of "its own delays and dithering".

The Tories had left the issue in good order, he said, but now some departments had left it too late to prepare, he said.

"Most chilling of all, the minister cannot tell us what the position is for the health service and local authorities, he cannot tell us what the position will be in our hospitals and schools come the millennium."

He also demanded a guarantee that medical systems in the NHS will work on January 1 2000 and that benefits will all be paid to the right people at the right addresses would be paid.

"This feeble and cautious prevarication of a statement will not do. Nothing less than a guarantee from the government that all will work is up to the task," said Mr Redwood.

"A major problem"

Dr Clark hit back, saying the Tories left practically no plans.

He himself took action as soon as he received a report on the issue last year, he stated.

He paid tribute to the members of the private sector who had helped the government plan.

A National Audit Office report said that the framework for managing the NHS problem was in place but its complexity required control at all levels.

"Nobody's pretending this is easy.

"There is a major problem. It has got to be tackled and I'm trying to work with this House where we all have responsibility to make sure this country and our citizens don't suffer," said Dr Clark.