§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the effect on the voluntary price regulation scheme of doctors who buy 'flu vaccine at a 20 per cent. discount which is not shown on the invoices to be reimbursed by his Department.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1987, c. 179]: General medical practitioners who administer 'flu vaccine to patients on their lists are reimbursed for the cost of the vaccine at standard rates, not on the basis of invoiced charges for individual supplies. The Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme operates by controlling the aggregate costs and profits of pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines to the National Health Service. It does not seek to control the prices of individual products or the cost of particular transactions.