§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects all family doctors to have access to NHS Net; what is the total estimated cost to public funds of NHS Net; and if he will make a statement. [107082]
§ Ms StuartAll family doctors will have access to NHSnet by the end of 2002. NHSnet is a managed service and has no capital costs to public funds. The annual cost of access to NHSnet for health authorities and National Health Service trusts is £3.8 million. The annual cost of access for general practitioners will be approximately £19 million once they are all connected. This sum includes managed services such as routers and firewalls as well as costs for 24-hour/7 day network access.