To ask Her Majesty's Government how much money has been (a) spent to date on, and (b) committed to purchase, (1) drugs to combat swine flu, (2) related equipment, (3) new or extended systems for flu management, and (d) public health publicity in respect of the illness. [HL5341]

The spend to date on drugs is over £500 million and additional committed spend on further drugs will take the amount to over £1 billion. We are not able to break down this number due to confidentiality clauses in our contracts with the various manufacturers.

The costs of consumables and the National Pandemic Flu Service are also subject to confidentiality clauses.

On publicity, the department has spent about £8 million to date and committed to purchase £2.4 million on public health publicity in respect of the illness.