§ 30. Mr. Galleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent representations he has received about the agreement achieved with the Pharmaceutical Services negotiating committee on the pharmacists' contract.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeSince our final offer on the new contract for community pharmacists was put to the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee on 14 May, I have had meetings with representatives of the Company Chemists Association, Boots and Underwoods Ltd. We have also received correspondence from Safeways Ltd., from Underwoods, and, either direct or via hon. Members, from 13 individual pharmacists.
These representatives are coming from a dissatisfied minority of contractors. The PSNC negotiates for all contractors and their negotiators, including representatives of the Company Chemists Association, accepted our proposals unanimously. The proposals were accepted by the local pharmaceutical committees at their conference on 23 June by a majority of 192 to 19.