Community Pharmacies

Debate between Oliver Colvile and Jonathan Ashworth

Wednesday 2nd November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Jonathan Ashworth]

I should like to make a bit of progress, if I may. As I said earlier, I am extremely conscious that other Members wish to speak.

As we have heard, the former Health Minister said that 3,000 community pharmacies could close. When pressed about the figures last month, the current Minister said

“no community will be left without a pharmacy.”—[Official Report, 17 October 2016; Vol. 615.]

I hope he will confirm that he still stands by that statement. He also claimed:

“Nobody is talking about thousands of pharmacies closing”. —[Official Report, 17 October 2016; Vol. 615, c. 602-3.]

He obviously did not receive the memo from the right hon. Member for North East Bedfordshire. But what did he say when he was pressed by my hon. Friend the Member for Worsley and Eccles South (Barbara Keeley) about the number of closures? What soothing, reassuring words did he offer to all our constituents? He said, “I do not know.”

I am sorry that the Minister has not got a clue, but I hope that when he winds up the debate he will be able to tell us how many pharmacies will close as a result of these cuts. If he is not prepared to tell us that, will he tell us how many services will be cut?

[Oliver Colvile (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) (Con)]

rose—

[Jonathan Ashworth]

I will give way to the vice-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on pharmacy, but then I must make progress.

[Oliver Colvile]

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the number of pharmacies has increased by 18% over the past 10 years?

[Jonathan Ashworth]

I know that the hon. Gentleman works tirelessly as a champion for pharmacies, but he knows that these proposals will mean cuts in many services.