To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reason no external assessment has been made of the plans of (a) his Department, (b) the DVLA and (c) the Highways Agency for millennium compliance; and if he will make a statement. [78463]

External consultants are employed by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to assist in assessing its overall programme for millennium compliance, and by the Highways Agency to assist in assessing its millennium plans. The plans of the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency for millennium compliance are being assessed by a team of experienced computer Internal Auditors who are independent of the Agency's millennium projects.