A BOLTON MP has urged a Government minister not to scrap restrictions on pharmacy locations.
Ruth Kelly, MP for Bolton West, has asked Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, to reject an Office of Fair Trading recommendation to repeal regulations controlling the number of chemists that can be set up in an area.
The OFT believes that scrapping the laws will increase competition, but Ms Kelly fears that small pharmacies in less lucrative rural areas will disappear.
She added that this would force some people to travel several miles to get their prescriptions from supermarkets.
Ms Kelly said: "I have written to the Secretary of State urging her to reject this OFT proposal and to do all possible to ensure that the pharmacy continues to be an integral part of the community."
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