PHARMACIES

leave out from 'House' to end and add 'notes that long standing negotiations between the Department of Health and the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee on the future structure of pharmacists' pay are taking place; believes that it is premature to reach conclusions; shares the view of Her Majesty's Government, the Committee of Public Accounts and the pharmacists' profession itself that the present system gives an unsatisfactory deal to the public, the profession and the taxpayer; regrets attempts to scare the public into believing that it is Government policy to close down small pharmacies; welcomes the Government's commitment to positive reform and, in particular, its strong commitment to providing support for essential small pharmacies; and calls upon all those concerned about this issue to concentrate on constructive negotiation.