§ 11. Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will visit the school for dental therapists at New Cross hospital before reaching any decision on its proposed closure.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergYes, Sir. I propose to visit the school during the Christmas Recess and a decision on its future will therefore be postponed until the visit has taken place.
§ Dr. ThomasI am very glad to hear the news of the visit. Among the escalating costs of the National Health Service, the dentists' costs remain pretty constant. Would not the development of dental health therapy, rather than its imminent demise, be far more worth while to the National Health Service, unless privatisation is what the Minister has in mind?
§ Mr. FinsbergIf I commented on that question I should be prejudging the decision that we are postponing until after the recess.
§ Mr. PawseyWill my hon. Friend take this opportunity to confirm that the recommendation to close the school was made by a committee of independent members of the dental profession and was entirely outside his Department?
§ Mr. FinsbergI confirm that the committee was as independent body.
§ Mr. George CunninghamWill the Minister bear in mind, in reaching a decision on this matter, that the consequences for the care of children's teeth could be very serious, and that if he implements the recommendation of the latest committee, which was chaired by a civil servant of the Department—hardly independent—he will be going against the views expressed by the Royal Commission on the National Health Service, the Court committee and the Nuffield committee? Does he particularly remember that on 16 November I asked for a meeting on the subject before a decision was reached? If that does not happen, there will be big trouble.
§ Mr. FinsbergI very much resent what the hon. Gentleman said about the calibre of a civil servant in my Department in suggesting that because he chairs a committee he cannot be independent.