§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total cost of commemorative(a) coins and (b) events to mark the 50th anniversary of the National Health Service. [96571]
§ Mr. DenhamEvents to mark the 50th anniversary of the National Health Service were organised in accordance with the principles that activities should promote the core aims of the service and that money should not be diverted from patient care.
Commemorative coins marking the anniversary were produced by the Royal Mint and involved no cost on the part of the Department.
Central support for the NHS' special activities during its anniversary year were met within the Department's publicity and communications budget. The total for activity was £1,673,000, spread across the financial years 1997–98 and 1998–99. This was offset by sponsorship support to the value of around £1 million.