§ Mr. Jim Lesterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will review the system of payment to pharmacists for making up prescriptions in view of the decline in numbers particularly of small units which give valuable local service.
§ Dr. OwenMy Department already makes supplementary payments to pharmacies which dispense small numbers of prescriptions and which are con-508W sidered to provide essential National Health Service dispensing services in certain, mainly rural, areas. I understand that the chemists' representative organisation is at present discussing additional proposals designed to support small pharmacies, and these will of course receive careful consideration when they are put to the Department.