asked the Secretary of State for Social Services following the meeting between the Minister of Health and the Rural Pharmacists Association on 6 October, what are the final arrangements for the implementation of the Clothier report on rural pharmacists.

I am afraid that I have never met the Rural Pharmacists Association.However, as part of their continuing negotiations on the establishment of the regulatory body recommended by the Clothier committee, representatives of the General Medical Services Committee, the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and the pharmaceutical services negotiating committee met on 6 October under the chairmanship of an official of the Department. I understand that the negotiations between the professions have not yet been completed and there are, therefore, no final arrangements for the implementation of the Clothier committee's report.