§ 13. Mr. McAvoyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will now review his policy of charging for dental checks.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe number of dental examinations has gone up gradually in recent years. We expect this long-term trend to continue. There was a slight dip in the figures for late 1989. More people than usual sought examinations just before the charge was introduced.
§ Mr. McAvoyDoes the Minister accept that the number of dental treatment courses taken by patients over 18 and liable to charges fell by 10 per cent. between the first and third quarters of last year? Does she accept that the charges are damaging dental care and should be withdrawn?
§ Mrs. BottomleyI accept no such thing. The examination charge is £3.45 and it is right that people should make that contribution. When the Labour party was in power there were far fewer examinations. Now there are four examinations for every three that took place then.