asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their latest estimate of the national annual cost of pathology testing carried out (a) for National Health Service primary care trusts; and (b), so far as the cost is not included in (a), in National Health Service hospitals. [HL805]

The report of the independent review of National Health Service pathology services in England estimated that the total cost of NHS pathology services is £2.5 billion per annum. The department does not collect information centrally about the national annual cost of pathology testing carried out for National Health Service primary care trusts.