§ Mr. Fortescueasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why, in view of the fact that under his regulations it will be compulsory from 3rd March for pharmacists to dispense in metric weights, it will not at the same time be compulsory for doctors to prescribe in metric weights; and what arrangements he is making to compensate pharmacists for the extra work involved in converting prescriptions from Imperial weights to metric weights.
§ Mr. CrossmanThe provsions of the Weights and Measures Act 1963 under which the regulations are made do not relate to the prescribing of drugs, but only to one fulfilling of the order in a prescription.
A sample inquiry into chemists' costs, arranged jointly by the Department and the Chemist Contractors Committee, which begins in April, will disclose the staff time spent in National Health Service work including extra work resulting from metrication; the results of the inquiry will subsequently be used in reviewing chemists' remuneration.