http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/news/bottom_story.html?in_review_id=216965&in_review_text_id=168242

Leaflets blitz to ease bug fears

by JONATHAN PRYNN

All 26 million households in Britain will receive an official millennium bug 'anti-panic' handbook from the Government next month in the biggest campaign of its kind since the infamous Aids pamphlet of the mid-eighties.

The glossy 24-page booklet will go out in the first or second weeks of November, making it the bulkiest national Government doordrop in living memory.

The document is aimed at easing fears about the impact of the millennium computer bug and reducing the chance of a mass panic reaction.

Ministers are concerned that fear of the bug could cause more problems than any computer problems brought by the date change itself, particularly as people will be preparing for the longest ever Christmas and New Year break.

They will urge members of the public to keep the booklet to hand for reference during the New Year period. As well as busting some of the more lurid myths about the effects of the Y2K bug, the booklet, which is costing at least #5 million to produce and distribute, will include helpline numbers for the major utilities and public service providers.

It will also urge people not to stockpile food or worry about their household electrical goods blowing up or planes falling out of the sky.

The booklet, which will be delivered by the postal service, will be backed up by national TV, radio and poster advertising, probably fronted by BBC 1's Crimewatch presenter Nick Ross, repeating his role in the first awareness-raising campaign in the spring.

The autumn campaign will be the Government's last major effort at stamping out fears about the millennium bug. Ministers and officials have been pleased with the effect so far of information programmes on public concern about the Y2K bug.

Latest Government research reveals that worries about a New Year catastrophe caused by the bug fell to their lowest level (18%) yet during the summer.

Government efforts to fix the bug, led by Leader of the Commons Margaret Beckett, will cost at least #430 million. Britain is seen as one of the best-prepared countries in the world for the arrival of the new millennium.

Although Government national doordrops are not uncommon - there are two a year on average - the majority relate to elections and the electoral roll.

Only rarely does the Government regard an issue as so pressing that it justifies the expense of a blanket distribution.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), October 18, 1999

Answers

And if it is anything like the first version of Action 2000's 'bug info' leaflet, it will go on the fire where it belongs.

74 days to go and the government is worried about panic. What about the 33% of UK firms that have already experienced Y2K problems ?

The economics of the Y2K situation is already kicking in - wait until the bug bites ....

-- Rob Somerville (merville@globalnet.co.uk), October 18, 1999.

"...Only rarely does the Government regard an issue as so pressing that it justifies the expense of a blanket distribution. "

So the government is now distributing blankets?

You know,...if they REALLY want to get people's attentions, they should get a couple of B52's to circle the city dropping leaflets continuously for 48 hours.

That would certainly get people to sit up and notice ;-)

-- plonk! (realaddress@hotmail.com), October 18, 1999.

The U.K. had urged people last fall/winter to stock up for Y2K, and said at the time it did not want any Y2K preparedness being down towards the end. One either jumped on the boat being lowered from the Titanic then, or made the choice to stay and sing some songs as the sea swishes around ones knees.

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), October 18, 1999.

My husband was talking to his cousin yesterday (they live in England). He asked if they were preparing. They have no idea what is going on. They believe the government.

NOTHING may happen, but how can we risk the lives of our families? Our dog, cats and bird will be better prepared than most people on this planet.

-- Kath (wingy@sprint.ca), October 18, 1999.