asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to require pharmacists dispensing National Health Service prescriptions to prepare medicines on generic names of drugs unless the general practitioner concerned orders that no substitute may take the place of the brand name prescribed.

This is one of a number of issues on prescribing which the Government are keeping under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy with regard to generic prescribing among medical practitioners.

It is a longstanding policy that doctors should be encouraged to use the generic, or approved, names of drugs when prescribing.