§ 71. Mr. Mackasked the Minister of Education if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Newcastle-under-Lyme, with a population of nearly 70,000, has been without a school dentist for several months; that, as a consequence, unnecessary pain and suffering has been caused to children; and if he will take immediate action to remedy this state of affairs.
§ Mr. TomlinsonI understand that the Staffordshire Local Education Authority, who now have 18 school dentists as against 19 a year ago, have so far been unable to fill the vacancy which occurred last October at Newcastle-under-Lyme. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and I are giving urgent attention to the circumstances which are causing a shortage of school dentists.
§ Mr. MackDoes my right hon. Friend realise that the way to decrease the 2016 number of irate mothers and nagging molars in Newcastle-under-Lyme is to give a direct instruction from his Department? Otherwise I am afraid nothing will be done.