To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much is being spent by his Department on celebrating the 60^th anniversary of the NHS. (208049)

A budget of £300,000 has been allocated to mark the 60^th anniversary of the national health service during 2008. This will be used to fund a wide range of activities including providing resources for the local NHS to celebrate the anniversary, events for staff and stakeholders and publication of a commemorative history.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to encourage organisations which are part of the NHS to celebrate the 60^th anniversary of the NHS. (208050)

To encourage national health service organisations to celebrate the 60^th anniversary of the NHS, the Department worked with the NHS to develop a communications resource pack for the local NHS organisations. The pack includes a range of low or no-cost ideas that focus on having a celebration with purpose alongside staff, patients and stakeholders, interesting facts and figures, NHS 60 artwork and a press pack.

Regular updates on activity have been included in NHS staff communication channels and in face-to-face meetings with chief executives and directors of communication.