§ 47. Mr. Blenkinsopasked the Minister of Health the number of courses of conservative dental treatment provided in each of the years 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, and 1954 and in the first quarter of 1955.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithAs the answer involves statistics a statement will, with permission, be included in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopCould it be suggested to the Minister that he might review the dental charges in order to give more encouragement for conservative treatment—with a small "c"—especially of a minor character, in order to avoid trouble brewing up and people waiting until they have a mouthful of difficulties? That is happening very frequently at the present time.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithWhen the hon. Member has seen the figures I think that he will find that conservative treatment, under a Conservative Government, has steadily risen every year.
§ The numbers in round figures are:
| 1950 | … | 4,280,000 |
| 1951 | … | 4,670,000 |
| 1952 | … | 5,160,000 |
| 1953 | … | 5,240,000 |
| 1954 (53 weeks) | … | 5,900,000 |
| 1955 (1st quarter) | … | 1,560,000 |