§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the implementation of the recommendations of the Clothier committee on rural pharmacies.
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§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeAfter several years of negotiations, representative bodies of the medical and pharmaceutical professions have successfully concluded discussions on the recommendations of the Clothier committee. I am therefore laying before Parliament today regulations which implement the committee's proposals. From 1 April, a new body to be called the rural dispensing committee will decide, in the interests of patients, how significant changes put forward for dispensing in rural areas can best be regulated. I am grateful to Sir Alan Marre KCB for agreeing to be the first chairman of the rural dispensing committee.