§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the National Health Service gross profit margin percentage per prescription for chemist contractors operating within the National Health Service;
(2) what is the net profit margin per prescription for chemist contractors operating in the National Health Service; and how this figure is calculated;
(3) what has been the fall in National Health Service gross profit percentage per prescription for chemist contractors operating within the National Health Service from 1975 to the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. MoyleGross profit (1) is estimated to have been 25.4 per cent. of total NHS turnover in 1975 and 23.9 per cent. in 1976, the latter figure being based on provisional balance sheet calculations.
Net profit (2) per prescription is estimated to have been 4.3p in 1976.
- (1) Gross profit has been interpreted as total remuneration including a notional salary for working proprietors, reimbursement of all
701 labour and overhead costs and a 16 per cent. return on capital employed for purposes of NHS dispensing. - (2) Net profit is the product of a 16 per cent. return on the current value of capital employed, including stocks of drugs and fixtures and fittings.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what recent representations he has received from the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee about the adequacy of the return from prescriptions for chemist contractors;
(2) what further discussions he proposes to hold with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee on National Health Service remuneration for chemist contractors; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Viggersasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current state of negotiations between the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee and his Department with regard to the remuneration of chemist contractors.
§ Mr. MoyleI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke) on 23rd May.—[Vol. 932, c.331.]
§ Mr. Viggersasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the manner in which retail chemists are remunerated through the National Health Service;
(2) what is the percentage of National Health Service turnover through retail pharmaceutical outlets which has been represented by pharmacists' remuneration during each of the last five years.