To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate of cost over and above current provision she has made of the impact of the Equal Pay Act 1970 on individual (a) primary care trusts and (b) NHS trusts in the Eastern Region; and if she will make a statement. (127636)

There are around 120 equal pay claims outstanding against national health service organisations in the East of England strategic health authority area. It is not possible to estimate what, if any, additional cost will arise from these claims as there are a number of significant legal issues which need to be resolved before liability can be assessed.