§ Mr. Maddanasked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in the negotiations about the remuneration of chemists in England and Wales for National Health Service dispensing; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BarberNegotiations with the Central Chemist Contractors' Committee have now resulted in agreement on a settlement which the Committee will recommend to local pharmaceutical committees. This involves an increase in remuneration of some £6 million a year with effect from the beginning of 1964, including the amount for outgoings referred to in my reply to my 225W noble Friend the Member for Hertford (Lord Balniel) on 20th April, and certain retrospective payments for 1962 and 1963 amounting in all to about £5 million.
I hope that this agreement with the Committee is a good augury for future relations between it and the Government.