§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what representations he has received from his policy directorate concerned with consumer affairs on the implications for community-based pharmacists in Northern Ireland, the publication 831W of the Office of Fair Trading report on "The Control of Entry of Regulations and Retail Pharmacy Services in the UK"; and if he will make a statement; [99349]
(2) whether he has plans to make Beta Interferon more widely available in Northern Ireland for treatment of multiple sclerosis; [99317]
(3) whether he has made representations to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on the recent report by the Office of Fair Trading on "The Control of Entry Regulations and Retail Pharmacy Services in the UK"; and if he will make a statement; [99302]
(4) what assessment he has made of the impact on the recommendations in Investing for Health 2002 of the report by the Office of Fair Trading on "The Control of Entry Regulations and Retail Pharmacy Services in the UK"; [99301]
(5) what discussions he has held with the General Consumer Council (Northern Ireland) on the implications of the report by the Office of Fair Trading on "The Control of Entry Regulations and Retail Pharmacy Services in the UK" for a balanced and sustainable provision of state services; and if he will make a statement; [99299]
(6) how many representations he has received on the Office of Fair Trading report on "The Control of Entry Regulations and Retail Pharmacy Services in the UK"; and if he will make a statement; [99303]
(7) if he will commission a study into the economic impact of the Office of Fair Trading report on "The Control of Entry Regulations and Retail Pharmacy in the UK", with particular reference to the effects upon the rural economy; and if he will make a statement. [99300]
§ Mr. BrowneThe Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is considering the report of the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) carefully, together with the implications the report has for patients and users in both rural and urban areas, for the pharmacy profession and for Health Service policy as a whole.
The Department has invited views and is meeting key interests to hear their reactions to the report in order to help inform the Government response. As of 27 February, 14 written responses have been received. In addition, the Department sought the views of key interests, including community pharmacy, the Health Service, patient groups and the General Consumer Council, at a seminar on 20 February 2003. A written submission from the General Consumer Council is expected shortly.
The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is responsible for co-ordinating a response across Government to reports of this type. Competition and consumer matters are reserved to the United Kingdom Government in Westminster. However, Health Service pharmacy policy is a devolved matter and the regulations imposing controls on pharmacies are a matter for Ministers in each country. They will consider and determine how they wish to respond. That will be reflected in the overall Government response. The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is therefore working closely with Health Departments and other Government Departments to make sure that 832W Government's response to the report takes account not only of competition and consumer interests, but wider public policy objectives.
In considering the OFT report and its recommendations, the Department will take fully into account the views of all interests. It is too early to say what further economic or other information might be required.