§ Mr. David Kidney (Stafford)A number of Members have recently presented petitions on the subject of the Office of Fair Trading report on pharmacies. I am now presenting a petition on the same subject, on behalf of residents of my constituents. Four hundred and sixty-one signatures have been collected.
The petition
Declares that the proposals made by the Office of Fair Trading allowing the unrestricted opening of pharmacies able to dispense NHS prescriptions will have a detrimental impact on local pharmacies and their continued services to local communities.The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to reject the proposals made by the OFT for the unrestricted opening of pharmacies,And the Petitioners remain, etc.
§ To lie upon the Table.
7.17 pm§ Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton)My petition is similar to that of my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Kidney). This issue has caught the public's imagination. My constituents fear that proposals in the OFT's report on pharmaceutical services will adversely affect community pharmacists' ability to deliver a comprehensive service. The petition, signed by approximately 2,000 of my constituents, asks for the protection of opening hours of pharmacies serving local communities.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to keep the present framework by rejecting proposals which could lead to the closure of community pharmacies.And the Petitioners remain, etc.
§ To lie upon the Table.