Baroness Merron (Lab)

It is not possible to predict—although I do not think the noble Lord, Lord Scriven, is asking me to do so—how many pharmacies will take up this arrangement, because it is an enabling piece of legislation, not a requirement. It is also a matter between those businesses. To remind noble Lords, we already have provision in place for suitable pharmacy provision across the country, whether it is rural or urban, and that sits outside the regulations we are talking about today. The noble Lord, Lord Scriven, asked about the regulation of hubs, and I can assure him that they will be registered pharmacies regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council in Great Britain or the PSNI in Northern Ireland. The General Pharmaceutical Council has great experience in inspecting hubs and has substantial intelligence on what practical arrangements have been adopted by hub-and-spoke operators that work well. The pharmaceutical council will also ensure that all standards for registered pharmacies are met and—to the point raised by a number of noble Lords, including the noble Lord, Lord Kamall—that patient safety is protected. To conclude, I emphasise that hub-and-spoke arrangements are not new, as large companies already operate their own hubs. This is probably a discussion for another day, but some people might suggest that that was an example of some market influence, if I can tactfully put it like that. In the meantime, I thank all noble Lords for their contributions, consideration and questions, and I beg to move.