Written question asked by David Atkinson (Conservative) on Thursday, 5 March 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 10 March 1998. It was answered by Clare Short (Labour) on Tuesday, 10 March 1998 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with the World Bank on assistance to third world countries on the need for computer systems to be millennium compliant.

Answer: Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the World Bank on assistance to third world countries on the need for computer systems to be millennium compliant; and if she will make a statement. [33862] Clare Short: My Department is part of an informal donor network organised by the World Bank on matters concerning information technology and international communications. Last week, the Government committed £10 million of grant aid to the World Bank Trust Fund for Information Development. These funds are earmarked for assisting poor countries to identify problems of millennium compliance, to design strategies to overcome the problem in priority areas and to provide technical co-operation in support of the solutions. I am ready also to consider providing support directly to poor developing countries.

Secondary information