§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he is satisfied with the operation of the basic practice allowance to chemists; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what is the current value of the basic practice allowance for retail pharmacists;
(3) if he will publish in the Official Report the criteria for the payment of the basic practice allowance to chemists;
(4) how many chemists have received the basic practice allowance in the city of Liverpool in each of the last five years to the latest available date.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe basic practice allowance is currently paid in England and Wales at the rate of £2,400 per annum to all pharmacies included in a family practitioner list on 1 July 1980 and to any added to a list since that date which are situated more than 1km in a straight line from the next nearest NHS pharmacy. We are satisfied with the operation of the scheme. Since the introduction of the basic practice allowance in July 1980, the number of pharmacies in the city of Liverpool in receipt of the allowance has been:
- December 1980 — 128
- December 1981 — 124
- December 1982 — 123
- November 1983 — 121