§ 2.40 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any progress has been made in the conversations upon the drug tariff which were stated in the House on 4th of March to be taking place, and if they have anything to report.]
The EARL OF ONSLOWMy Lords, the arrangements which were stated to be under consideration have now been completed, and the chemists' representatives were advised in March last. The effect is that from 1st April last payment is being made for certain borderline items which just fail to meet Tariff requirements. The arrangements will ensure that most reasonable items are covered. My right honourable friend the Minister of Health is proposing to draw doctors' attention to the new provisions and to ask them to prescribe accordingly.
LORD SALTOUNMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Earl for his answer. I know that the National Pharmacists' Union are very happy with the results. However, I should like to ask the Government to bear in mind that human inventiveness is never ceasing, and that the chemists are perhaps not very well placed for their own defence; and to consider whether the conversations now so happily ended may not be renewed, as circumstances demand, in the happy atmosphere now created.
THE EARL OF ONSLOWMy Lords, I am certain that my right honourable friend would like to carry on this policy, and I shall certainly draw his attention to the remarks of the noble Lord.