Pharmacies (Northumberland)

63.

Mr. Beith
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pharmacies have closed or ceased to dispense  National Health Service prescriptions in the Northumberland area during the last five years.

Mr. Ennals
From 1st January 1975 to 31st December 1977, the net reduction in pharmacies providing National Health Service pharmaceutical services in Northumberland was seven. Owing to boundary changes at the time of National Health Service reorganisation, comparable figures for earlier years are not available.