§ Mr. Nichollsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his Department collated any information on the average opening hours per week of retail pharmacists in the united Kingdom in the course of his recent consideration of the pharmacists' discount scale; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe question of opening hours was not one of the considerations which had to be taken into account for either the discount or remuneration inquiries, and consequently the information sought is not available. Hours of service form part of a pharmacist's contract with the relevant family practitioner committee and are prepared by the FPC after consultation with the local pharmaceutical committee.