§ Mr. Litterickasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will seek powers to control the prices of drugs charged by drug manufacturers to the retail pharmacy trade.
§ Mr. MaclennanI believe that there are already adequate powers of control. Drugs supplied for human consumption are either subject to the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme maintained by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services or to the scrutiny of the Price Commission. The Commission is currently examining the prices, costs and margins of proprietary medicines.