To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will bring forward proposals to change the law to prevent a pharmacist, who has been disbarred following a professional hearing for offences involving drugs, from continuing his business. [9620]

I do not propose to change the existing legislation controlling the business of a registered retail pharmacy.Persons who have been removed from the register of pharmaceutical chemists are not entitled to use the restricted title of "pharmacist" and cannot legally own a pharmacy business in their own name. They may retain an interest in the business by transferring ownership to a partnership or body corporate, but in either case the pharmacy must operate under the personal control of a registered pharmacist.