To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of (a) establishing the choose and book system and (b) operating the system to date; whether the system is rolling out to plan; and if she will make a statement. (113488)

At the end of November 2006, the cost to date of the development and operation of the choose and book computer system was £33.0 million under a contract with Atos Origin worth £64.5 million over five years.

In the week ending 3 December 2006, 32 per cent. of all national health service referrals to see a specialist went through choose and book and 77 per cent. of General Practitioners practices made at least one choose and book referral. All 170 eligible NHS acute trusts and a number of independent sector providers, are receiving choose and book referrals.