§ Mr. Moyleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the additional cost to the National Health Service of the surcharging of medicines under the national pricing scheme operated by the major wholesale pharmaceutical companies since 1 June;
(2) whether he has been informed that since 1 June wholesale pharmaceutical companies are surcharging medicines supplied to the National Health Service; and, if so, whether he has any evidence that this is causing delays to patients in obtaining their prescriptions from dispensing chemists;
(3) under what circumstances he may disallow the pharmaceutical wholesalers' national pricing scheme which since 1 June is surcharging drugs and medicines supplied to the National Health Service; and, if so, whether he intends to use them.
§ Sir George YoungI refer the right hon. Gentleman to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Belper (Mrs. Faith) on 9 July.—[Vol. 988, c.199.] My right hon. Friend has no evidence that the introduction of notional prices by some pharmaceutical wholesalers is causing delays to patients in obtaining their NHS prescriptions from dispensing chemists. The Department is continuing discussions with representatives of manufacturers, wholesalers and retail pharmacists with a view to restoring arrangements that will be acceptable to all parties.