§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimates his Department has made of the likely rate of closure of independent pharmacies over the next five years.
§ Mr. MoyleCurrent pharmacy closure rates, which have recently shown signs of470W abating, cannot be projected reliably, because of the number of different factors, which singly, or in combination, may lead to closure.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average profit for a pharmacist per prescription and the average profit per pharmacy of National Health Service prescribing, expressed in constant values in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. MoyleFollowing are the figures, at 1972 values:
Gross profit per prescription Annual gross profit per pharmacy £ £ 1972 0.22 5,777 1973 0.22 6,004 1974 0.21 6,296 1975 0.21 6,361 1976 (Estimate) 0.20 6,489