PSNC has welcomed the new minister responsible for pharmacy, Alistair Burt to his new post of Minister of State for Community and Social Care. The post combines, responsibility for primary care, with areas including local government, adult social care, older people and mental health.

Mr Burt is MP for North East Bedfordshire. He has previously held posts of Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Opposition Whip in the Commons, Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and a Minister in the Department of Social Security, and was Deputy Chair of the Conservative Party from 2007 to 2010.

He is a qualified solicitor and also served on Haringey Council in London for two years. Mr Burt’s political interests are listed at www.parliament.uk as including church affairs, trade and industry, Third World, foreign affairs, rural affairs, disability, sport, poverty and social affairs.

PSNC chief executive, Sue Sharpe, said, ‘We are looking forward to working with Alistair Burt and are pleased to note that his responsibilities also include care for older people and integration, both of which are important areas for community pharmacy.’