§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government;
Whether they will confirm that pharmacist contractors will receive £45 million more for National Health Service dispensing in the year beginning 1st April 1985 (as reported in Chemist and Druggist, 23rd February 1985); and, if so, whether this is to be deducted from the £75 million they expect to save from the introduction of the limited drugs list.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Baroness Trumpington)Remuneration of pharmacist contractors is a repayment to them of the labour and overhead costs they incur in the provision of the NHS dispensing service plus a negotiated rate of profit. Settlements are reached prospectively and therefore depend on forecasts. Any errors in those forecasts are corrected in following years. The additional remuneration which is to be paid in the financial year ending 31st March 1986 totals £45 million.
This comprises:
This remuneration settlement is not in any way affected by the introduction of the selected list of drugs.
£11.882 million underpayment in the period 1st January 1984 to 31st December 1984 and reflects errors of forecasting in the previous settlement. £4.940 million in respect of the period 1st January 1985 to 31st March 1985. This is an ad hoc settlement to offer a new settlement date of 1st April. £28.233 million which is a forecast of the sums which will fall due for the period 1st April 1985, to 31st March 1986.