To ask the Secretary of State for Health who has been the senior official responsible for user involvement in the National Programme for IT/Connecting for Health Programme since its inception, with the periods for which each official was responsible. (172487)

Since May 2005 to date, Mr. Richard Jeavons, Director of Service Implementation and senior responsible officer (SRO) for service implementation has had this responsibility, reporting to the NHS Chief Executive and overall SRO for the national programme for information technology. Previously the role was filled by Mr. Alan Burns (November 2004 to May 2005), and Professor Aidan Halligan (April 2004 to November 2004). Prior to April 2004 responsibility for arrangements for engaging with key stakeholders across the NHS was part of the responsibility of the then overall SRO for the programme, Sir John Pattison.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the date was on which each renegotiation of his Department's Connecting for Health contracts was completed; and what the additional costs were arising out of each renegotiation. (169955)

There has been no renegotiation of primary supplier contracts let by NHS Connecting for Health under the national programme for information technology. There have been ‘resets’ of the contracts within the original terms and conditions to accommodate changes in subcontractor, development and deployment dates and, in one case, novation of the contract. All these changes continue to support the evolving needs of the national health service, but there has been no substantial change in contract scope or risk allocation. Suppliers continue to be responsible for delivering the overall requirements against the original terms and conditions, and within the original costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress his Department has made on its review of health informatics; with which (a) individuals and (b) organisations his Department has had discussions for the purposes of contributing to the review; what the content was of these discussions, when he intends to publish the results of the review; whether he intends to consult on any recommendations contained in the review; what interim findings have emerged from the review to date; and if he will make a statement. (170093)

The informatics review is in the initial stages of analysing collected data and information, and the process of consulting stakeholders has begun. To date the review team has met with staff from the information centre for health and social care, the Department's Information Services Division and NHS Connecting for Health, suppliers, and the national health service to discuss informatics issues and by its conclusions will have consulted a wide range of other stakeholders.

The informatics review is planned to report in alignment with the next stage review being led by my noble Friend the Lord Darzi. So far there have been no interim findings.