HC Deb 21 June 1951 vol 489 cc692-4
28. Mr. Summers

asked the Minister of Health the total amount still due and unpaid by him to chemists for services rendered under the National Health Service Act.

Mr. Marquand

It is estimated that at 30th April, 1951, the total amount due and unpaid was of the order of £5 million. A substantial supplementary payment is accordingly being made this month.

Mr. Summers

Is the Minister aware that there is an overwhelming number of chemists who have something like £350 to £400 owing to them and that this is an intolerable burden when added to the many other difficulties with which they have to contend?

Mr. Marquand

I know that some of the accounts are not finally completed but, on the other hand, payments in advance are regularly made and I am advised that even if the pricings were up to date the chemists would have £3 million to £3½ million owing to them at the end of any month.

Mr. Nally

Would my right hon. Friend not agree that, making all the allowance that might be made for the fall in the value of the pound, the average private chemist over the last three years, in terms of real pound value, has made more money—I do not complain about that—and has had a higher income than ever before?

Mr. Speaker

That is not the Question. The Question asks what is unpaid.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

What is it that prevents a Government Department, with the great funds at its disposal, from carrying on the ordinary honest principles of business and paying their debts when they become due?

Mr. Marquand

We cannot, obviously, pay at once without checking the figures in a matter where public funds are concerned.

29. Mr. Summers

asked the Minister of Health what is the last date up to which chemists have been paid in full for their work under the National Health Service.

Mr. Marquand

Substantial payments on account are made each month. Executive Councils have been authorised to make final settlements up to June, 1950, in all cases and up to July, 1950, in about 70 per cent. of cases.

Mr. Summers

Is the Minister aware that it is very unsatisfactory indeed for 12 months' business to remain unsettled and uncompleted, and is he making any progress in reducing the present time lag of 12 months between the issue of the account and its final settlement?

Mr. Marquand

Yes, Sir. Progress is definitely being made, and we are not far now from the point of being able in any one month to keep pace with all the accounts for that month.

Mr. Linstead

Is the Minister's pricing system now catching up with the arrears, so that, once those arrears are cleared off, current prices will run with current needs?

Mr. Marquand

I cannot say that the arrears are actually being overcome. My information is that they are almost at the point of being overtaken.

Mr. Nally

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that in at least 5 per cent. of cases where accounts are rendered by chemists, there is very good reason to suppose that the accounts need looking at? Despite the pressure from the Opposition, will my right hon. Friend not prevent his Department from ensuring that the National Health Service is not made into a racket by private enterprise?

Mr. Marquand

The situation is that with the institution of the free supply to all persons of drugs of this kind, there was an enormous increase in the number of prescriptions. It is not possible, with the numbers of competent staff available, immediately to overtake those arrears, but the chemists themselves are not at any serious disadvantage because these payments are regularly made in addition to payments on account.

Mr. Summers

Are we to understand from the Minister's reply that he can hold out no prospect of the arrears being overtaken and that he will be content merely to complete the pricing of these goods some 12 months after they were supplied?

Mr. Marquand

No, Sir. That would be an incorrect deduction to draw from what I have said.

Sir H. Lucas-Tooth

Is the Minister taking action to improve the existing machinery, because even if he pays off the outstanding arrears for the last 12 months other arrears will be accumulating and with the rise in prices the time lag will become even greater?

Mr. Marquand

That is a perfectly fair question. As I have said, progress is being made in dealing with these arrears.