HC Deb 27 October 1949 vol 468 cc183-4W
95. Mr. Harrison

asked the Minister of Health if he has now prepared a scheme to arrange for the return of empty medicine bottles.

Mr. Bevan

The present arrangement involves a reduction in the allowance paid to chemists for containers from 2½d. to 1¼d. a prescription, coupled with an appeal to the public to return medicine bottles. This was preferred by the representative organisations of chemists to the alternative of a deposit system, on the grounds that it would obviate difficulties between chemists and patients which arose under the old insurance scheme when a deposit system was in force.