§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government, what is the number of refugee dentists at present in this country who are not allowed to practise, and whether, in view of the shortage of dentists, they will represent to the General Medical Council the desirability of granting them permission.]
§ THE MARQUESS OF NORMANBYMy Lords, the number of unregistered alien dentists at present in this country is, I understand, about sixty. I shall be happy to draw the attention of the General Medical Council to the noble Lord's question, but I ought to make it clear that in dealing with applications for registration by foreign dentists the Council are bound to comply with the conditions laid down by Parliament in Sections 9 and 10 of the Dentists Act, 1878. The most important of these conditions is that the Council must, before they recognize a foreign dental qualification, be satisfied that it furnishes sufficient guarantees of the possession of the requisite knowledge and skill for the efficient practice of dentistry or dental surgery.
LORD FARINGDONWill the noble Earl point out to the General Medical Council that a number of these dentists 446 hold qualifications which are equivalent to those held by other foreign dentists who have been permitted to practice?
§ THE MARQUESS OF NORMANBYI will point that out.