Welcome back to the APPG on Pharmacy weekly Parliamentary update. Set out below is a summary of key parliamentary and policy developments in community pharmacy from the week just gone.

As part of the APPG on Pharmacy’s ongoing inquiry into medicine shortages, the Group will be hosting an oral evidence session on Monday 10th February. Outputs from the meeting will be shared on the website in due course.

Key Parliamentary Activity

Oral Contributions

Closure of High Street Services: Rural Areas - Wednesday 5th February – Full transcript available here.

James Naish (Labour) spoke on the importance of high street pharmacies in rural areas in delivering care and highlighted the role of Pharmacy First.

National Insurance Contributions Bill House of Lords – Tuesday 4th February – Full transcript available here:

Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat) spoke on the issues facing community pharmacy and the detrimental impact that the proposed national insurance contribution changes will have.

Written Questions:

There were 8 written questions relating to Pharmacy answered in the House of Commons and House of Lords this week. These can be viewed on Hansard here.

Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat) on pharmacy staffing retention
Dr Luke Evans (Conservative) on Departmental meetings with Pharmacy industry bodies
Dr Luke Evans (Conservative) on community pharmacy contractual framework negotiations
Baroness Bennet (Green Party) and Nick Timothy (Conservative) on medicines access
Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party) on National Insurance impacts on pharmacies in Northern Ireland
Liam Byrne (Labour) on local funding allocations