42. Mr. W. M. ADAMSONasked the Minister of Health whether he can give under national health insurance the total number of dental treatment cases and the cost for the six months of the financial year?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe complete information asked for by the hon. Member is not available. Certain figures have, however, been obtained from a number of the largest societies, with a total membership of over 6,000,000 insured persons, and these show that during the 12 months from July, 1926, to June, 1927, the number of claims for dental benefit sanctioned by the societies 1102 was 571,435, at a cost to the societies of £1,426,832. It is estimated that the total number of claims sanctioned in the year by all approved societies was about 1,100,000 and the cost about £2,500,000.