To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for the introduction of a statutory requirement for pharmacists to inform customers when a medication is cheaper by normal retail sale than by prescription; and if he will make a statement.

Only a small number of items prescribed by GPs can be bought without a prescription. Where these are available at a price less than the prescription charge, the pharmacist is, of course, free to point this out. There are no plans to make this a statutory requirement.