Uncertainty about what the Government is doing to help companies with the millennium bug computer problem has been one of the concerns of callers to the Year 2000 helpline, established by the small firms lobby group, ISME, last month. ISME executive Mr Jim Curran said the precedent established by the group should be adopted by the Government's Year 2000 Advisory Committee "to ensure that the wider business community and others are properly informed and prepared".

Other concerns raised by more than 400 companies which have availed of the service are the cost of compliancy, the effect on business of suppliers who are non-compliant and whether security systems, fax machines and photocopiers with a non-compliant chip will be affected.