Y2K - more mixed messages

The US Department of Commerce is so confident in the general level of Y2K preparedness across the country that it has issued a report proclaiming the millennium changeover will have no effect on the US economy.

The only problems foreseen are for that group of small firms which has adopted a 'fix on failure' strategy.

And yetÉ Two major US oil companies have announced plans to shut down their transcontinental pipelines over the critical period - just in case.

Meanwhile, in the UK, Taskforce 2000 has kept up its thorn-in-the-side campaign, arguing against complacency. Director Robin Guenier warned some weeks ago against setting out on international travel between Christmas and the end of January. In a more detailed look at air systems in a range of countries, Taskforce 2000 has assigned a 'red light' - serious risk of disruption - to some surprising locations, including:

• Finland

• Germany

• Switzerland

• Spain.

The UK merits a 'green'.

Elliott Chase