§ 57 and 58. Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Health (1) if he is aware of the hardship caused to pharmacists by the fact that payments made by the National Health Service represent only about 80 per cent. of the value of prescriptions prepared and supplied by them; and if he will take steps to remedy this anomaly;
(2) if he will take steps to expedite the work of the Pricing Bureau to enable pharmacists in Glamorgan, and in other parts of Wales, to receive payments due to them from the National Health Service more promptly; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonPharmacists are paid in full for the National Health Service prescriptions they dispense. Advances on account have been necessary in one area in Wales, Glamorgan, because the Welsh Joint Pricing Committee, who are responsible for pricing prescriptions submitted by chemists for payment, are experiencing staffing and other difficulties but steps are being taken to overcome them.