Community Pharmacy in 2016-17 and Beyond Debate

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Department: Department of Health and Social Care

Community Pharmacy in 2016-17 and Beyond

Desmond Swayne Excerpts
1st reading: House of Commons
Thursday 20th October 2016

(7 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Housing Standards (Preparation and Storage of Food by Tenants in Receipt of Universal Credit or Housing Benefit) Bill 2016-17 Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
David Mowat Portrait David Mowat
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I do not have the specifics for my hon. and learned Friend’s constituency in front of me. We have published the full list and it is in the Vote Office, and I am sure that when she has a look at it she will find that some pharmacies in her area are protected.

Desmond Swayne Portrait Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)
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It is right to protect services by being more focused, but is there any other kind of commercial retail enterprise to which Government hand an establishment fee of £25,000?

David Mowat Portrait David Mowat
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Not that I know of, but there may well be. The facts are that the £2.8 billion that we currently spend is for services and for disbursing £8 billion-worth of drugs. It is a valuable service, but it is right that we look to see that that money is spent effectively and as effectively as in other parts of the NHS. It is the Government’s job to make sure that every penny that we give the NHS provides maximum value for patients.