HC Deb 15 May 1985 vol 79 c168W
Mr. Nicholls

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he has taken to ensure that doctors and pharmacists understand the rules for limited list prescribing; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The regulations governing the selected list are inevitably complex. As a result doctors and pharmacists are finding it difficult to decide when scheduled drugs may be dispensed against prescriptions for non-scheduled ones with the same ingredients. The point has been made to us that the Government's intentions should be more clearly expressed. We accept this view and propose to amend the regulations as soon as possible in order to put their meaning beyond any doubt. The appropriate representative bodies are being consulted urgently about the proposed amendments in the usual way.