HC Deb 16 July 1987 vol 119 cc632-3W
Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements are being made for payments to pharmacists who withdraw from their National Health Service contracts; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Newton

Provision for compensation payments to certain pharmacists in Great Britain who withdraw from their NHS contracts was included in the overall provision for the family practitioner services for 1987–88. However the votes do not include subheads under which payments can be made and Parliamentary approval to new subheads in Class XIV Vote 2, Class XVI Vote 17 and Class XVII Vote 7 will be sought in Supplementary Supply Estimates. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £3 million will he met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.