Mr Smith said that research suggested that "higher-quality medicalcare in the United States than in England" meant people were less likely to die from chronic illnesses.
The research was funded by the Medicalresearch Council and the Wellcome Trust so it could be better understood how to best take care of hospitalised infants, especially premature babies.
The information can be obtained from computer terminals at home or in the office, and it can include facts about entertainment, shopping, medicalcare, finance, education, and scientific research.