Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to reimburse local pharmacies for the additional costs of remaining open during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

We continue to work with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee to assess what further funding community pharmacy may require to continue to supply medicines and to help their communities stay well. The Government has already put in place an unprecedented financial package, providing support to all businesses, including community pharmacies, such as tax deferrals and cash grants of up to £25,000 for small businesses. Additionally, since March we have made available £350 million in extra advance payments to alleviate cash flow pressures. There was also an increase of £15 million per month to reimbursement prices of the most commonly prescribed generic medicines from June. Additional funding has been provided to cover the costs of Bank Holiday opening and the new medicine delivery service for shielded patients as well as contributing to adjustments made in the community pharmacy to support social distancing.