§ 3. Mr. Guy Barnettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has now placed in the Library the statement on the training of dental therapists after 1983 to which he referred in the Official Report, 21 January, column 522.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg)The statement was placed in the Library on 2 February.
§ Mr. BarnettHas the Minister satisfied himself—and taken counsel's opinion to ensure—that there are no legal impediments to the training of dental therapists at dental schools?
§ Mr. FinsbergAccording to the advice available to me, there are no legal impediments.
§ Mr. George CunninghamIs the Minister prepared to give the House a definite assurance that even one dental therapist will be trained somewhere outside New Cross in the next two years?
§ Mr. FinsbergI can only remind the hon. Gentleman of what I said on a previous occasion. I have every expectation that there will be dental schools, not only in London but outside, that will be prepared to take on the training.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyWhy has the Minister decided to close the school before he can be absolutely sure that there is some other dental school that will train the therapists? They have been proved to do an excellent job, particularly in child hygiene, and there has been no criticism of their work.
§ Mr. FinsbergThat is exactly what I told the hon. Lady. What she fails time and again to take in is that about 500 therapists are already trained and not in employment. We are still training two groups of 40 therapists, for whom, on present indications of demand by health authorities, there may not be posts.