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The survey, conducted by Y2K campaigning group Taskforce 2000 and disaster recovery company Adams Associated, claims that 31% of the 1,000 large firms polled have experienced millennium bug related computer problems.

The report also said that 84% of large UK companies are preparing for power failures, 85% for telecom links and 97% for systems failures.

Taskforce 2000 said the findings of the survey highlight the anxiety felt by British industry.

"This is a clear indication that the possibility of infrastructure failure is a major concern...The truth is that we are all in the dark and it is time the government made full information available," said Taskforce 2000 chief executive Robin Guinier.