COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS ANNOUNCEMENT MERELY A REPRIEVE

12.12.24pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 17th Jul 2003

Brian Cotter MP, the Liberal Democrat Spokesman has called on the Government to fill in the many gaps that still remain over the future of the community pharmacy.

While bidding a cautious welcome to the DTI's statement on community pharmacies today, Brian Cotter said: "Until we get more answers from the Government about the small print of its plans, this statement is merely a reprieve for the community pharmacist and not the all out victory that it may first appear."

"While I obviously welcome the fact that that the DTI is not planning to introduce full deregulation in the near future today's statement makes it clear that a deregulated system is the still the Government's endgame, albeit in three years time and albeit after the next election."

"The Government claims that its proposals will support the needs of small business, and yet in the same breath it is admitting that larger shopping developments will be exempt from the entry requirements that are imposed on the smaller community pharmacist."

"It is simply deplorable that Government has slipped out such an important statement as this on the day before Parliament goes on recess. At the very least it should have been an oral statement, and the fact that it isn't should send alarm bells ringing."