When was this? Mr Burstow refers to a written answer in March 2004: I 
have the impression that costs have spiralled since then - or maybe not, 
with the penalties against BT and, presumably, Fujitsu, for delays..
Not that delaying the start of implementation in Southern by 6-9 months 
is likely to increase the cost to NPfIT.

Mary Hawking
PS You note that Mr Hutton is careful to only refer to the planned 
budget for NPfIT, and not for the costs to the rest of the NHS health 
economy.

In message 
<[log in to unmask]>, 
Ewan Davis <[log in to unmask]> writes

>Two PQs and some commentary from me  will answer your questions, your friend
>can look them up in Hansard online if they still don't believe it.
>
>FIRST PQ
>
>Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer
>of 24 March 2004, Official Report, column 922W, on the national programme
>for information technology (NPfIT), what the total projected cost was for
>the NPfIT when it was announced in June 2002 (a) up to March 2006 and (b) up
>to and beyond March 2006. [165302]
>
>Mr. Hutton: When the national programme for information technology in the
>national health service (NPfIT) was announced in June 2002 the costs were
>still being assessed and work was ongoing as part of the Spending Review
>
>(SR) 2002. The first projected cost for the NPfIT announced in January 2003
>as part of SR2002 was £2.3 billion to cover the period April 2004 to March
>2006.
>
>We are not considering budgetary requirements as part of SR2004 and the key
>indicator of the projected cost for the NPfIT following award of the eight
>contracts is £6.2 billion to cover the period from April 2004 to beyond
>March 2006. The initial £2.3 billion was allocated as follows: £370 million
>for 2003?04, £730 million for 2004?05 and £1.2 billion for 2005?06.
>
>National Programme for IT
>
>SECOND PQ
>
>Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the projected
>cost of the National Programme for Information Technology in the NHS was
>when it was originally announced; what the latest available projected cost
>is; and if he will make a statement. [154989]
>
>Mr. Hutton: The projected costs for the national programme for information
>technology (NPfIT) in the national health service were announced in the
>strategy document, "Delivering 21st Century IT in the NHS", as £2.3 billion
>for the period up to March 2006. Central funding for the NPfIT is to be made
>available from the Spending Review 2002 as follows—£370 million in 2003–04,
>£730 million in 2004–05 and £1.2 billion in 2005–06.
>
>We are on schedule and on budget to spend £2.3 billion on centrally procured
>IT by March 2006.
>
>Future expenditure will form part of the ongoing financial management
>processes within Spending Review 2004 and future envelopes. By 2008, IT
>funding will be in line with the levels proposed within the Wanless Review;
>that is, 4 per cent., of total NHS expenditure.
>
>MY COMMENTS
>
>Given that the Government are also committed to raising NHS total
>expenditure to £90.2 bn by 2008 my calculation are that this means that they
>have committed to spending about £30 bn on IT over the ten years of the
>National Programme of which £6.3bn is already committed to NPfIT with a
>future figure somewhat less than £8bn tied up supporting existing systems.
>
>My £30bn calculation is based on committed spending plans (which don't cover
>all ten years of the programme) and the conservative estimates that
>healthcare expenditure grows at 3% pa in cash terms for the rest of the
>period of the NPfIT, this is less than the current rate. It's hard to get to
>a figure of £39 bn committed for the ten years of the Programme although it
>is not difficult to believe it might cost > £40bn at the end of the day and
>even if it stays within the £30bn already committed the running rate will be
>4.1 bn pa by the end of the NPfIT.
>
>Ewan Davis - Director - Woodcote Consulting
>                      - Chairman - British Computer Society - Primary Health
>Care Specialist Group
>
>See our website at www.woodcote-consulting.com
>
>[log in to unmask] Voice +44(0)1527 875340 DDI +44(0)1527 875341
>Fax +44(0)1527 871196
>
>
>
>
>________________________________
>
>From: GP-UK [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Richard Johnson
>Sent: 01 March 2005 19:16
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Referrences to 6.9 &39 Billion
>
>
>Hi
>
>I have a lawyer friend (Insolvency lawyer) who cannot belive the figures
>being banded about in NPfit i.e. 6.9 billion and  39 Billion
>
>Can the learned clientelle of this list provide me with urls griving me the
>references to this money?
>
>
>
>Thanks
>
>
>
>Richard J
>
>
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-- 
Mary Hawking