To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners will be equipped with the necessary software to enable them to be responsible for their budgets from 1 April 1991.

We are currently engaged in discussions with the computer companies. The details of these discussions are commercially sensitive, but the general objective is to ensure that the necessary software will be available to all the general practitioners wishing to take part in the practice funding scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest estimated cost of developing and supplying the computer software systems for doctors eligible and electing to run their own budgets.

Development and supplying of the software for practice funding is a matter for the general practitioner computer suppliers. The Department does not hold the information necessary to estimate individual companies' costs.