§ Mr. Terlezkiasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the cost of (a) hardware, (b) software and (c) development of the programme of providing computer terminals for 3,000 general practitioners as recently announced;
(2) what private sector input he envisages in his recently announced programme of providing 3,000 general practitioners with computer terminals; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe have no plans to provide 3,000 general practitioners with computer terminals, as reported in the press, though discussions are in progress on a pilot project into direct reporting of adverse reactions to a central computer using viewdata equipment already installed in doctors' premises. The project does not entail the purchase of any equipment by DHSS for supply to doctors. Negotiations on the cost of purchasing the necessary software are in progress. I refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 1 March 1984 at column342 to my hon. Friend the Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Stevens).
As a quite separate scheme my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has met half the costs of about 150 microcomputers for general medical practitioners. Most of the computers have been installed and an evaluation of their impact on general practice is in progress. The cost to DTI of hardware and software is estimated as £800,000; the suppliers have borne the cost of developing the system.