Written question asked by Lord Lansley (Conservative) on Wednesday, 23 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 April 2005. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Thursday, 7 April 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 7th December 2004, Official Report, column 503W, on Health Direct, when he expects to announce the (a) set-up and (b) running costs of Health Direct; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 7 December 2004, Official Report, column 503W, on Health Direct, when he expects to announce the (a) set-up and (b) running costs of Health Direct; and if he will make a statement. [224324] Miss Melanie Johnson: Health Direct will be set up starting from 2007. A scoping study will be undertaken during 2005 to establish the customer requirements and service definition for the Health Direct service. Set up and running costs for the service will be established during the subsequent procurement phase, which we expect to complete by the end of 2006.

Secondary information