Member

Finally, as the Minister herself said and as the noble Baroness, Lady Ritchie, raised, can she update the Committee on the discussions on aligning the position in Northern Ireland, since pharmacy technicians are not yet a regulated profession? Does she have an update? I know that the noble Baroness, Lady Ritchie, gave some update in her contribution—but when do they expect pharmacy technicians to become a regulated profession in Northern Ireland? What conversations have there been at Minister-to-Minister level, maybe with Minister for Health Mike Nesbitt, or at the department-to-department level between DHSC and the Northern Ireland Department of Health, on making sure that this alignment happens as soon as practicably possible? Are there any possible timelines that are rather more specific than “in due course” or “at pace”, which I know that officials are very fond of putting into speeches for Ministers?