RETAIL PRICE MAINTENANCE ON OVER THE COUNTER MEDICINES

Early day motion 643, tabled 14 January 1998 by Howard Stoate (Labour). Signed by 195 members.

That this House expresses its concern at the decision of the Office of Fair Trading to commence legal proceedings to end retail price maintenance (RPM) on over the counter (OTC) medicines at a time when the Government is already seeking to review this agreement in the Competition Bill [Lords] currently being considered by the House of Lords; deplores the actions taken by a supermarket chain to attempt to break the present agreement and end protection for independent community pharmacies; further notes that the loss of RPM on OTC medicines could lead to the closure of many independent community pharmacies, an outcome which would seriously undermine the Government's health strategy and increase the burden on GPs; and calls on the Government to ensure that a nation-wide network of community pharmacies remains in place to serve the needs of all the community, in particular the elderly, the infirm and mothers with young children.

Signatures by party: Labour 147, Liberal Democrat 16, Labour/Co-operative 13, UUP 8, Conservative 4, Plaid Cymru 3, DUP 1, Scottish National Party 1, UKUP 1, Unknown 1.