Action 2000 uses a 'traffic light' system to code readiness to face the millennium. A close look at the results provided shows that the situation looks more serious for many companies and organisations than so far reported.

Taskforce 2000, the independent Y2K watchdog, released a report earlier this year voicing their concerns about the readiness of UK local government and the emergency services to be Y2K compliant by set deadlines.

The report by Action 2000 now seems to support this view as 92% of local authorities in England and Wales are not yet Y2K ready and have been given an amber rating, meaning there is some risk of material disruption. Six local authorities in England have been assessed as red, indicating there is a severe risk of material disruption to infrastructure processes.

The majority of the emergency services, according to these results, are at amber, including 98% of police agencies.

The NHS is given a majority rating of amber, with 97% still not Y2K compliant. David Cruickshank, chairman of Action 2000, said they had "no idea" what was happening in the private healthcare sector and claimed, "It is not of immediate concern to us."

There are also concerns about financial institutions, with 8 receiving a red status. The FSA, the industry regulatory body, has refused to name and shame the financial corporations, saying it could cause major disruptions. However, Michael Foot, speaking for the FSA claimed they "would act if that is what is needed." This could involve the restriction of new business, the transfer of clients to a Y2K compliant company and, in extreme cases, the possible closure of the non-compliant party.

With only 200 days left until the set deadline David Cruickshank expressed concern that things were running this late and said "there is a lot of work to be done".