To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health authorities (a) have a staffed service on their freephone health line and (b) pre-recorded taped advice. [40244]

All health authorities have responsibility for securing provision of a staffed freephone health information service for their resident populations.Some choose to provide the service themselves whilst others place contracts with outside providers. In total, there are currently 23 health information service providers covering all health authorities. Of these, five have a pre-recorded taped advice service, in addition to their staffed service.