Royal Pharmaceutical Society
Alistair Burt has announced that he will step down as health minister in September 2016.
Burt, who has been leading on the government’s proposals to cut £170m from the community pharmacy budget in England in 2016, announced his decision while he was taking health questions in the House of Commons on 5 July 2016.
The health minister told MPs this would be his last health parliamentary question time as he was stepping down in September 2016. He gave no reason for his decision.
Burt was appointed minister of state for community and social care at the Department of Health in May 2015 following the Conservative Party’s success in the UK general election. His remit includes primary care services – including pharmacy and GP services. He is also responsible for social care.
The Department of Health confirmed that Burt is resigning his ministerial position; a spokesperson said “it would be business as usual” until September, when his successor will be chosen.
Burt is Conservative MP for north and east Bedfordshire and first entered Parliament in 1983.
