§ Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment she has made of the Competition Commission's provisional conclusions and hypothetical remedies contained in its inquiry into the pricing of prescription-only medicines; what assessment she has made of the effect of the inquiry's initial proposals on the(a) ability to dispense and (b) profitability of (i) small animal and (ii) large animal veterinary practices; and if she will make a statement; [88722]
(2) when the findings of the Competition Commission's inquiry into the pricing of prescription-only veterinary medicines will be published; and if she will make a statement. [88721]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Competition Commission's statement of provisional conclusions and hypothetical remedies was made public to inform interested parties in case they wished to make further representations to the Commission in the course of the inquiry. Therefore, it would not have been appropriate for DTI Ministers to make any assessment or statement until after receipt of the final report.
652WThe Competition Commission's draft final report on the supply of prescription only veterinary medicines was sent to DTI on 8 January 2003. The administrative target is to publish within 10 weeks of receipt.