asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now renegotiate pricing arrangements for the supply to the National Health Service of ampicillin and similar antibiotics, in the light of the increase of profit in the Six months ended 30th September, 1970, of £2 million above the same six months of last year for the Beecham Group.

The prices of all ethical medicines, including antibiotics, are reviewed annually under the Voluntary Price Regulation Scheme. Recent negotiations with the manufactures of ampicillin have resulted in further substantial price reduction effective from next month.