§ 8.11pm
§ Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield)Like several other hon. Members, I have a petition concerning community pharmacies. It is from the users of Knights pharmacy, Longbridge, Birmingham and other concerned residents. It contains more than 800 signatures and it reads:
We declare that the proposals of the Office of Fair Trading to allow unrestricted opening of pharmacies able to dispense NHS prescriptions would result in a decline in the availability and quality of local healthcare currently provided from community pharmacies.The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to reject these proposals by the Office of Fair Trading and promote the NHS pharmacy plan to encourage and support local community pharmacies.
§ To lie upon the Table.
8.12 pm§ Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham)Further to the petition that has just been presented by the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Richard Burden), I should like to present a petition on the same subject on behalf of no fewer than 2,280 of my Buckingham constituents.
The petition declares that
Proposals to allow the unrestricted opening of pharmacies able to dispense NHS prescriptions would undermine the excellent service currently provided by community pharmacists.The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons should reject such proposals in the interests of the best possible service to the public.
§ To lie upon the Table.