§ 28. Miss Burtonasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the decision to charge the first £1's worth of dental treatment to the patient will result in a decrease of preventive work; and if he will, therefore, withdraw his proposed charge.
§ Mr. CrookshankI will, with permission, answer this and Question No. 29 together.
§ Miss BurtonMay I have an answer to the Questions separately, Sir? They are not the same.
§ Mr. SpeakerI think the hon. Lady should wait to hear the answer.
§ Miss BurtonOn a point of order. May I have your guidance, Mr. Speaker? I appreciate that the answers may be the same, but I believe that the Minister has to seek permission to answer Questions together and, if I have your permission to refuse that permission, may I have the Questions answered separately?
§ Mr. SpeakerI have known that done. I will watch the point. If the hon. Lady will listen to the answer and desires to ask a supplementary question for further elucidation I will see that she catches my eye.
§ Miss BurtonI am sorry to insist, Sir, but with great respect, do I understand from your ruling that you will allow me two supplementary questions if the questions on the Order Paper are answered together? Otherwise, can I please have the Questions answered separately?
§ Mr. SpeakerCan the Minister answer these Questions separately?
§ Mr. CrookshankI would refer the hon. Lady to the debate on the financial and economic situation on 31st January, when I endeavoured to explain the reasons which make these and other measures necessary.
§ Miss BurtonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that that attitude underlines the difference between the two sides of the House—that this side is anxious to prevent ill-health and that the other side has not yet got as far as that? Second, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that instead of being known as a party of conservation they will be known as a party of decay, as a result of this?
§ 29. Miss Burtonasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the unnecessary suffering which will be inflicted on dental patients by his proposal that emergency treatment for the relief of pain should be charged for; and, as this cost is limited to 7s. 6d., if he will make arrangements for it to be free.
§ Mr. CrookshankI would refer the hon. Lady to the debate on the financial and economic situation on 31st January, when I endeavoured to explain the reasons which make these and other measures necessary.
§ Miss BurtonHas the right hon. Gentleman—as I may not refer him to it—seen the reports in the Press today that he is contemplating a reduction in these charges as a result of pressure which has been brought by his own side of the House, and is there any truth in these statements?
§ Mr. SpeakerIt is not in order to base questions on newspaper comments.