PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
RETAIL PRICE MAINTENANCE ON OVER THE COUNTER MEDICINES (14 January 1998)

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.

Sponsored by:
Dr Howard Stoate (Labour)