HC Deb 20 January 1949 vol 460 cc315-6
19. Mr. Harrison

asked the Minister of Education what progress is being made in the consideration of the scale of salaries for school dental officers to avoid the disparity of pay that exists between the school dental officer and the dental practitioner working under the Ministry of Health, which results in wholesale retirements of dentists from the school service; and what effect this will have on the salaries structure of local authorities.

Mr. Tomlinson

The local authority associations have asked for a meeting with representatives of the Government on this and related questions and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and I are seeing them shortly.

Mr. Harrison

I hope that the Minister realises that the National Health Service does not provide any alternative to this essential service, and that he will take into consideration the essential need to reach some agreement before the present service is completely wrecked?

Mr. Tomlinson

Yes, Sir.