§ Mr. FrenchTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he has any plans to allow the location of pharmacies to be guided by customer demand; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he has any plans to allow more competition between pharmacies;
(3) if he has any plans to review the operation of the guidelines contained in his Department's circular HC (FP) (87) 2 regarding the location of pharmacies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorWe have no plans at present to change the arrangements which we introduced last year for controlling the inclusion of pharmacies in National Health Service pharmaceutical lists. These are intended to provide a means of matching the number of NHS pharmacies with local needs. However we are satisfied that it would be helpful to offer some additional advice to family practitioner committees on the way in which the arrangements are intended to operate. Consultations are being held with interested parties and we hope to issue additional guidance before Christmas.