HC Deb 01 December 1999 vol 340 c247W
Mr. Hammond

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of community pharmacies expected to close during the year 2000. [99882]

Ms Stuart

During 1998–99 (the last year for which figures are available), 46 pharmacies opened in England to dispense National Health Service prescriptions and 51 closed. No estimate has been made of the number likely to close during 2000.