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Health Bill

moved Amendment No. 82:"Page 26, line 17, at end insert—" ““(   )   No regulations may be made under this section unless the Health Ministers have previously consulted such organisations as appear to them to be representative of persons providing pharmaceutical services.”” The noble Earl said: Our debates on the last few groups of amendments show that any legislation and regulations made by Parliament on the responsibilities and professional practice of pharmacists cannot be formulated in a vacuum. They depend very heavily on what is professionally right and feasible. The purpose of Amendment No. 82 is therefore quite straightforward, which is to put in the Bill an obligation on Ministers to consult the appropriate professional bodies representing pharmacists before making regulations in this whole area. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain is keen that it should be an active participant in the drafting of regulations on all pharmacy-related sections of the Bill. I hope at the very least that the Minister will feel able to accept the spirit of the amendment, even if he cannot accept the amendment itself. I should be glad if he could provide me with suitable reassurances that the society’s expectations on this issue will be met. I beg to move.