§ Mrs. Faithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is prepared to continue to determine the remuneration of National Health Service pharmacist contractors for 1980 and 1981 on the basis of the indices agreed and used since 1964 rather than by reference to a notional percentage increase applicable within the public sector.
§ Dr. VaughanFor the year 1980, the amounts due to pharmacist contractors in respect of labour and overhead costs will be increased in line with the indices used since 1964. The present economic situation, however, makes it necessary to limit the rates of increase for 1981 to those agreed for the National Health Service as a whole in respect of pay and other items respectively.
§ Mrs. Faithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is now prepared to offer pharmacy proprietors in private practice an increase in salary for the year beginning 1 January 1980 on the basis of the formula agreed between the Minister for Health and the pharmaceutical services negotiating committee in August 1979, and to apply the same formula for the year beginning 1 January 1981.
§ Dr. VaughanI assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the notional salaries of working proprietor 409W pharmacists in contract with the National Health Service. In the present economic situation, it would not be justifiable for these notional salaries to attract a greater rate of increase than that applicable to the National Health Service as a whole. My right hon. Friend has accordingly offered the pharmaceutical services negotiating committee a notional salary for 1980 which is 14 per cent. above the 1979 figure., and has given them notice that the 1981 increase will similarly need to be kept in line with pay settlements generally in the National Health Service.
§ Mrs. Faithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the Government intend to honour their undertaking to the Franks panel that any agreement reached with the National Health Service pharmacist contractors on the reimbursement of an increased share of their property costs will be back-dated to 1977; and when he expects the negotiations which commenced in 1973 to be concluded.
§ Dr. VaughanI can confirm that any agreement reached with National Health Service pharmacist contractors on their current claims in respect of property costs will have retrospective effect from 1977. I cannot forecast when negotiations will be concluded but we hope to be able to make an offer shortly.