To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2008, Official Report, columns 1193-4W, on pharmacy, whether the £411 million excess for 2005-06 and the £558 million excess for 2006-07 represent excesses over the £500 million allowance for pharmacy contractors under the community pharmacy contractual framework. (183202)

The £500 million allowance for pharmacy contractors is for margins earned on all drugs. There is no separate allowance for generic drugs. The excess margins above the £500 million for all drugs were £300 million in 2005-06 and £511 million in 2006-07.