§ 7. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Health why his Department recently purchased 1,000 antibiotic tablets from an American firm for £40 9s. 5d., whereas similar purchases from other firms would have cost £16, 19s. 4d, or only £14; and whether he will cause an investigation to be made into these variations in charges.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonNo such purchase was made by my Department. These prices appear to refer to oxytetracycline dispensed by chemists under the pharmaceutical services. The price charged by the American firm is the maximum acceptable under the agreed arrangements for regulating drug prices, but since the patent has now expired it is, of course, subject to competition.