141. Lieut. - Commander Hutchisonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to 152W the remarks of the Comptroller and Auditor General in paragraph 7 of his Report on the Accounts of the National Health Service in Scotland for 1949–50; and what steps he intends to take to improve and speed up the pricing of prescriptions.
§ Miss HerbisonYes. Under the arrangements made with representatives of the Scottish chemists last November, over 80 per cent. of the chemists affected are receiving a final settlement on a broad basis for the period up to the end of 1950. The remaining chemists have undertaken to help in the clearance of arrears by pricing certain of their own prescriptions. For the future, it is hoped that the actuarial investigations to which the Report refers will provide a satisfactory method of ensuring prompt pricing by abbreviated methods within the capacity of the pricing bureau. Meanwhile an interim arrangement of this nature is in operation for prescriptions dispensed since the beginning of this year.