HC Deb 12 April 2000 vol 348 cc212-3W
Mrs. Spelman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what will be the cost of the re-branding exercise(a) across the NHS and (b) by region. [118670]

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 11 April 2000]: Adoption of the national National Health Service mark is being undertaken as items come up for replacement in the normal course of business. As a result, no NHS organisation has been required to undertake any additional work and no additional costs to NHS organisations are envisaged. New NHS organisations formed as the result of mergers will save money by adoption of the existing mark rather than having to invest in designing a new logo.

Mrs. Spelman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what date the re-branding exercise in the NHS has to be completed. [118669]

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 11 April 2000]: Health authorities have been asked to start using the existing National Health Service mark by January 2000, and NHS trusts by April 2001. No deadline has been set for NHS organisations to apply the NHS mark universally.

Mrs. Spelman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the cost of materials which will become obsolete through the re-branding of the NHS. [118733]

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 11 April 2000]: No items will become obsolete through the re-branding of the National Health Service. Materials will be ordered in the new style only when they come up for replacement in the normal course of business.

Mrs. Spelman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the items used by the NHS on which the new NHS logo is to be placed. [118668]

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 11 April 2000]: The National Health Service mark should be used on any item which previously displayed an NHS trust or health authority logo. Items will be ordered in the new style only when they come up for replacement in the normal course of business.

Mrs. Spelman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of cost savings he estimates the re-branding exercise for the NHS will entail. [118671]

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 11 April 2000]: New National Health Service organisations (formed to modernise the service—such as primary care groups and trusts—or as a result of mergers) have saved money by adopting the existing NHS mark rather than having to invest in designing new logos. Over time, further savings will be generated for the rest of the NHS as a common design standard enables the service to negotiate economies of scale with suppliers. The level of cost-saving depends on local turnover of stock within the NHS: items are being replaced in the new style only when they come up for replacement in the normal course of business.