HC Deb 12 July 1962 vol 662 cc1500-1
24. Mr. Box

asked the Minister of Education whether he will consult local education authorities about the practicability of introducing compulsory and supervised daily teeth cleaning by pupils in schools under their control.

Mr. K. Thompson

No, Sir. Local education authorities are free to arrange supervised teeth cleaning where they consider conditions are favourable.

Mr. Box

Does not my hon. Friend agree that this is becoming a very serious problem? Is he aware that in a fairly recent survey into the dental health of children under the age of 12, not 3 per cent. were found to have a perfect set of teeth? Is he further aware that if we continue at the present rate of decline, we shall shortly be producing a nation of toothless adolescents? Will my hon. Friend discuss this question with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Health to see whether something can be done to salve what is rapidly becoming a national problem?

Mr. Thompson

A great deal of dental health education is done at the schools. My Answer related to the specific suggestion of my hon. Friend. We take very seriously the point he has made, and discussions have gone on and are continuing between my right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.

Mr. Mellish

Is it not a fact that the real trouble here with the school dental service is that we are so short of trained dentists because these people are paid so poorly? Is it not the old story about not getting the right people for the right jobs because they are not being paid the right salaries? When are the Government going to do something about that?

Mr. Thompson

That is a gross oversimplification of the facts. There is a shortage of dentists throughout the country, both for the general dental service and for the school dental service.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Health has in hand the matter of increasing the supply of dentists.