Dental Health (Hansard, 9 November 1959)

§ 44. Mr. Janner
asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the official committees which have been set up to educate the public in dental health are unable to carry on their work adequately through lack of funds; and what steps he proposes to take to enable their work to be effective.

§ Mr. Walker-Smith
No, Sir. The committee which I think the hon. Member 30 has in mind is an advisory and coordinating body, and I have no reason to believe that it will not continue to do very useful work as such.

§ Mr. Janner
Are there not two committees which have been set up by the Government in consequence of the McNair Report, and is it not absurd to expect them to carry on without any kind of contribution by the Government? Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise the serious position in this country regarding the teeth of the people, and will be do something to help these committees so that they may be able to become effective?

§ Mr. Walker-Smith
The hon. Gentleman must realise that emphasis is no substitute for accuracy. This Standing Committee on Dental Health Education is a committee representative of the main interests concerned, like the Central Council for Health Education, the General Dental Council, the British Dental Association, Government Departments, and local authorities. It is these interests who spend the money; the committee is merely an advisory body.

§ Mr. Janner
May I say to the Minister that it is no good fobbing this matter off by talking about emphasis in that way. He is emphasising the fact that he is looking after the teeth of the people of the country. Why does he not see that funds are provided for those who have to educate the people in the proper use of their teeth—[Laughter.]—though with the prosperity under this Government they will have no teeth to use before very long—educate people in the proper treatment of their teeth to prevent decay?

§ Mr. Walker-Smith
The short point is that the bodies who are charged with the executive work are receiving the money and they are spending it. The hon. Gentleman, I am afraid, is on the wrong track. Perhaps the best thing would be that when he sees my answers in the OFFICIAL REPORT tomorrow, he should quietly get his teeth into them.