§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the value of the fee paid to community pharmacists in December 1997; [24722]
(2) what is the value of the fee paid to community pharmacists; and what was the value in December (a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000. [24707]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 8 January 2002]: Community pharmacies in England are paid a variety of fees and allowances, but the basic dispensing fee paid for 264W the large majority of prescriptions is currently 87.4p. Comparable fee levels for prescriptions dispensed in December 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 are shown in the table.
pence December Basic dispensing fee 1997 94.1 1998 94.1 1999 97.5 2000 97.5
§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how much community pharmacy contractors are receiving in dispensing fees; and what the equivalent figure was in May 1997. [24721]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 8 January 2002]: For September 2001 (the latest month for which figures are available) total remuneration paid to pharmacy contractors in England was £58.8 million. The equivalent figure for May 1997 was £52.9 million.