§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what will be the additional costs to his Department to implement his current proposals to extend the essential small pharmacy scheme;
(2) what was the original cost to his Department of introducing and running the essential small pharmacy scheme.
§ Mr. MoyleThe essential small pharmacies scheme is financed out of the total NHS rumeration paid by my Department. Payments to qualifying pharmacies in 1977, the first year in which the scheme was in operation, amounted to £237,616. Since smaller pharmacies will receive substantial increases under the recently introduced differential payment system, my Department has suggested that the average payment under the essential small pharmacies scheme should be reduced in order that more pharmacies may qualify for help within the same total cost.