§ 70. Dr. Kingasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many students entered colleges in 1949 to study dentistry; how many dental scholarships were awarded in that year; and what steps are being taken to increase the number of dental schools at the universities.
§ Mr. JayThe intake of dental students in October, 1949, was 613. Awards to students are a matter for my right hon. Friends the Minister of Education and Secretary of State for Scotland, but I understand that their Departments offered 209 new awards in dentistry in 1949. In that year the total number of students holding awards by those Departments was 1,115. Awards to students are also made by local education authorities, but comparable figures of such awards in dentistry are not available. Measures for increasing the supply of dentists are under consideration by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and the University Grants Committee.
§ Dr. KingSince the re-direction of this Question has suggested that my right hon. and learned Friend is responsible for all forms of extraction, will my hon. Friend see that some portion of the money voted to the universities is devoted to increased dental schools at the universities, in view of the great demand for dentists?