§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the current average discount percentage deducted from dispensing doctors' remuneration;
(2) when the last inquiry was held into discounts received by dispensing doctors on their drug purchases; and what is the date of the next inquiry.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyIn 1988–89, the latest period for which figures are available, the discount scale for dispensing doctors withheld an average of 5.7 per cent. of the price of drugs obtained by dispensing doctors. The last discount inquiry established the average discount available to dispensing doctors in 1983. No date has yet been set for a further inquiry.