§ 35. Mr. W. T. Williamsasked the Minister of Health how many of the cases of disciplinary action taken against dentists related to dentists employed by corporate bodies.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodMy records give 43 up to 31st May.
§ Mr. WilliamsIn how many of the 43 cases has disciplinary action been taken?
§ Mr. MacleodForty-three cases have been investigated. There are, I think, a total of 200 dentists employed by bodies corporate and 67 of those are employed by the Co-operative Dental Association. Only four of the disciplinary cases referred to apply to them.
§ Mr. WilliamsI do not think the Minister has understood the Question I was asking, which was how many disciplinary actions have been taken against dentists generally, not against persons employed by corporate bodies?
§ Mr. MacleodI am sorry, I thought the hon. Gentleman was referring only to 394 corporate bodies. The number of cases against dentists in private practice is 966.
§ Mr. WilliamsIn view of that very large number of cases, and the very small number of actions against dentists employed by corporate bodies, is it not clear that dentists practising privately are a good deal more culpable than dentists employed by corporate bodies—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Yes, the facts speak for themselves. In these circumstances will not the Minister reconsider his ill-starred Dentists Bill, which is designed specifically to operate against corporate bodies and the appointment of dentists, so far as one can see—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."] Is not it the case that corporate bodies in this matter are a good deal more responsible to the public than are private dentists?
§ Mr. MacleodIt is true that in the relative percentages between the two the point which is made by the hon. Member is perfectly fair. But I do not think it profitable to discuss by Question and answer a Bill which has not yet been given a Second Reading in this House.