HC Deb 22 October 1942 vol 383 cc2080-1
32. Mr. Graham White

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the increasing deficiency of adequate dental treatment, particularly among schoolchildren, and the presence in this country of some 60 German refugee dentists, whose loyalty is not in doubt and whose professional qualifications are not less than those of other German dentists already admitted to the permanent dental register and of other foreign dentists whose additional medical degrees have made possible their inclusion on the temporary medical register, he will see that a temporary dental register is set up?

Mr. E. Brown

As stated in the Reply to my hon. Friend the Member for the English Universities (Mr. Edmund Harvey) on 14th July, I am anxious that all possible use should be made of suitably qualified alien dentists who are in this country. A temporary dental register is, however, not necessary for that purpose. The statutory provisions which made a temporary register necessary for alien doctors do not apply to dentists. If any of the dentists to whom my hon. Friend refers possess foreign qualifications which have been approved for admission to the Foreign List of the Dentists Register, they are eligible for inclusion in that Register. My hon. Friend will appreciate that there are obvious objections to departing from the standard afforded by these registrable qualifications.

Mr. White

Is the Minister aware that since 14th July the situation has not improved, and that the Army Council have had to authorise the training of clerical dental orderlies and that the situation is very serious, and if there are such obstacles as those to which he refers, will he not take some action to have them removed?

Mr. Brown

The issue is whether or not their qualifications are up to standard.

Sir Percy Harris

Is it not hard on British soldiers to be experimented on by untrained men or men who have been trained in a few weeks, and has not the right hon. Gentleman's Department some responsibility to help the Army in the matter?

Mr. Brown

That is not the point of the Question on the Paper.

Mr. John Dugdale

Is full use being made of doctors who are also dentists?

Dr. Russell Thomas

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are many dentists on the British Register who have no qualifications at all?