Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will hold discussions with (a) the Pharmacists' Defence Association, (b) pharmacy employers and (c) trades unions representing pharmacy workers on ensuring the safety of community pharmacy staff.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic there has been regular contact between the Department and the Pharmacists' Defence Association on COVID-19 related issues. In addition, the Department has engaged with bodies representing community pharmacy employers on COVID-19 and the safety of community pharmacy staff and invited the Pharmacists' Defence Association to participate. For any further meetings on this issue, the Department will continue to invite the Pharmacists' Defence Association as well as other unions representing pharmacy workers.