HC Deb 13 June 1921 vol 143 cc169-71

(1) The Board shall admit to the dentists register kept under the principal Act—

(b) any person who makes an application in that behalf within the interim period and satisfies the Board that he—

(iii) had attained the age of twenty-three years before the commencement of this Act;

and who within ten years from that date passes the prescribed examination in dentistry.

9.0 P.M.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

I beg to move, in Sub-section (1, b, iii), to leave out the words "the prescribed" ["passes the prescribed examination"], and to insert instead thereof the words "a modified."

This Clause enables those who are present unregistered to get into the sacred circle of the registered dentists and to charge the higher fees. Under paragraph (a), any person who has been seven years, immediately preceding the commencement of the Act, engaged in the practice of dentistry can get in. Under paragraph (b), any person who makes application to be put upon the register and who has for any five of the seven years, immediately preceding the commencement of the Act, engaged as his principal means of livelihood in the occupation of a dental mechanic and within 10 years from the date of starting his work as a dental mechanic passes the prescribed examination in dentistry shall be admitted to the register. What this Amendment asks for is that they shall not be called upon to pass a very stiff examination such as will be necessary for future aspirants. They have been engaged in the occupation for many years, thereby acquiring a certain facility in the practice of their art, and they should not be barred out by being set a very severe examination which will only tend to keep the charmed circle as small as ever. When I moved this Amendment in Committee I was told it was not necessary and that the prescribed examination would be specially stated not to be a general examination for dentists, but I see there has been no provision made for any sort of easier examination for dental mechanics.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

I beg to second the Amendment.

Sir A. MOND

This point was discussed in Committee. In this connection the word "modified" means nothing. How can a standard examination be modified? The word "prescribed" simply means that the examination is going to be specially prepared to meet the needs of the occasion.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Whom is it going to be prepared by?

Sir A. MOND

It will be prepared by the Dental Board.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Will they not have an interest in keeping these people out?

Sir A. MOND

I do not see that. Those who control medical education in this country do not fix examinations for medical students simply with the idea of preventing them from qualifying.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Surely the right hon. Gentleman has heard the views of dentists on dental mechanics.

Sir A. MOND

The hon. Member forgets that all the different kinds of dentists will be represented on the Dental Board and also a certain number of outsiders, not dentists at all. It is not going to be left to the registered dentists to fix the examination. The matter will be under the control of the Ministry of Health, who in their interpretation of the Bill will take care to see that no unduly stiff examination is set directed against any particular class. The use of the word "modified" will not make it any better because the same people will prepare the examination in any case. The only effect of introducing the word "modified" in a Statute of this kind will be to leave everybody in doubt. I cannot accept the Amendment.

Mr. R. McLAREN

I trust the House will not agree to this Amendment. If there is one thing for which the House is famous, it is fair play to servants who have done good work. The unregistered dentists have done as good work, in many respects, as those who have been qualified. If it is a case of going upon precedent we find that in previous Acts we have always been inclined to help those who have been in a particular business prior to the passing of an Act dealing with that business. When the Act of 1887 was passed, dealing with coal mine regulations, there was a large class of men who occupied the position of colliery managers, but who could not pass the examination then instituted, and these men got certificates of service which were tantamount to passing the examination. The dental mechanics are in a similar position, and it will be most unfair to a body of men who did good work during the War if they are precluded from the benefits of this Measure.

Amendment negatived.