§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations she has received from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry during the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme negotiations;
(2) what proposals she has made in her negotiations with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry on the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme; and when she expects the negotiations to reach a conclusion.
§ Dr. MawhinneyNegotiations are now taking place between the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry and my Department on a successor agreement to612W the 1986 pharmaceutical price regulation scheme. Both sides have put forward various proposals and these are under discussion. Our aim is to reach an agreement which will provide a fair deal for the industry and for the taxpayer and it is not possible at present to predict how long the negotiations will take. In the meantime, the 1986 agreement continues to operate.