§ 17. Mr. Jannerasked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that a number of children in Leicestershire have not had a school dental inspection for five years; and what steps he is taking to deal with the position.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education (Mr. Kenneth Thompson)Yes, Sir. The basic problem is the general shortage of dentists, and my right hon. Friend is consulting with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health to see what further can be done to improve the school dental service while the shortage continues.
§ Mr. JannerDoes the hon. Gentleman realise that his right hon. Friend and the other right hon. Gentlemen have been consulting for a long time, and that in the meanwhile children's teeth are decaying? Is he not prepared to do something to encourage dentists to enter this side of the profession, even though there is a shortage, as is generally understood, in the profession as a whole? Is he aware that this is a serious difficulty, because the cost of attending to their teeth later will be much higher than it would be if the children's teeth were cared for now?
§ Mr. ThompsonMy right hon. Friend is very much aware of these considerations and very concerned about them. We are trying to find in what ways recruitment into the service can be improved, and we are continuing to make the best possible use of those dentists who are in it.