Why Boots sells homeopathic remedies

Paul Bennett, professional standards director and superintendent pharmacist at Boots, is questioned by the House of Commons science and technology committee about whether homeopathic remedies work.

This clip was taken from the start of a one-off evidence session on homeopathy.

The committee decided that using public money on the highly-diluted remedies could not be justified and the NHS should stop funding homeopathy.

The cross-party group said there was no evidence beyond a placebo effect, when a patient gets better because of their belief that the treatment works.

Evidence was also heard from: Tracey Brown, Sense About Science; Ben Goldacre, Journalist; Professor Jayne Lawrence, Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and Robert Wilson, British Association of Homeopathic Manufacturers (BAHM).

Some £4m a year is spent on homeopathy, helping to fund four homeopathic hospitals and numerous prescriptions.