§ 49. Mr. HARRY LAWSONasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether in the county of London the payments made for the supply of drugs to chemists and pharmacists are much in arrear; whether the insurance committee for the county of London is justified in withholding payments for a quarter because the account rendered is sent in a few days after the expiry of the preceding quarter; whether he is aware that such delay inflicts hardships upon chemists because of the drain upon their trading capital; and whether the Insurance Commissioners have issued any regulations referring to such payments?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI think the hon. Member has been misinformed. The Regulations which are incorporated in the agreements entered into by the chemists provide for periodical advances, although a final settlement can only be made at the end of the year, and advances up to 75 per cent. of the accounts rendered by the chemists up to the end of last quarter were promptly paid by the London Insurance Committee. With regard to the second part of the question, I am informed by the insurance committee that they do not withhold payments because the accounts are rendered a few days after the expiry of the preceding quarter. I will send the hon. Member a copy of the Regulations.