Maurice Hayes (Independent)

Will the Leader ask the Minister for Education and Science to come to the House to discuss certain issues relating to third level education, particularly the university sector, as soon as she gets her feet under the table? I was rather shocked to hear of comments made by the Minister's predecessor, who said that we will have to lower our sights if money is not available for the university sector. It seems to me that if we decided to settle for second-best in our university system, there would be appalling consequences for this country's economic and other development.

I would also like to refer to changes in the contracts of pharmacists under the National Health Service in Britain. Pharmacists are being placed in the front line of treatment there. Perhaps we could ask the Minister for Health and Children to discuss that matter with us when she comes to the House. It is important to keep people out of hospitals. Pharmacists, who have had very expensive training, comprise an enormous resource which is being wasted if we only ask them to stick labels on bottles and hand out pills.