§ Mr. Mark Hoban (Fareham)I am presenting a petition signed by over 2,600 people from communities in my constituency, including Whiteley, Swanwick, Sarisbury, Parkgate, Warsash, Locks Heath, Titchfield Common, Titchfield and Fareham itself. They are protesting about the threat posed to their community pharmacies by the proposals in the report by the Office of Fair Trading. The petition
Declares that the removal of restrictions on pharmacies able to dispense NHS prescriptions will have a detrimental effect on local chemists.The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government both to reject proposals that would allow unrestricted opening of pharmacies able to dispense NHS prescriptions and to preserve local pharmacies and safeguard their continued services to local communities.And the Petitioners remain etc.To lie upon the Table.