HC Deb 22 February 1962 vol 654 cc626-7
33. Mr. I. Davies

asked the Minister of Education how many school dental officers are in the employ of local authorities in Welsh counties and county boroughs; and what is the total current deficiency.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education (Mr. Kenneth Thompson)

Welsh counties and county boroughs employ the equivalent of sixty-one full-time school dental officers; the equivalent of a further eighty-seven full-time dentists would be needed for a comprehensive service.

Mr. Davies

Is the hon. Member aware of the great concern which exists, especially among parents, about the state of the school dental service? Is he further aware that in the County of Glamorgan the ratio in respect of the school dental service is one dentist per 12,000 children, as compared with one per 3,000, which is the recommended basis? In view of that state of affairs, will he give this matter his serious attention?

Mr. Thompson

I am aware of the very serious condition of the school dental service. The House is familiar with the reasons for it. I must correct the hon Member's figures with regard to the ratio of dentists to children in Glamorgan. I am advised that it is one per 5,600—which we recognise is far less than enough, but which is also a good deal better than the figure given by the hon. Member.

Dame Irene Ward

Is my hon. Friend aware that the condition of children's teeth is one of the few things that have not improved in respect of the health of children for many a decade? Does not this fact make it all the more important that we should have a sufficient number of school dentists? Would my hon. Friend like to go to the exhibition on health visitors at the London University and see the graphs concerning this matter? If he did that, he would know a little more about it.

Mr. Thompson

We cannot all be experts in every subject. I have done a good deal of research into this matter. My right hon. Friend and I share the concern which my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) has for the condition of our children's teeth. I am advised that in a good many ways the deterioration in the condition of children's teeth is to some extent an almost inevitable corollary of the improvement in other matters.