§ Mr. Hopkinasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that dentists qualifying after 1921 have to pay an annual fee 886W of about£4 whereas other dentists have to pay no annual fee; and, in view of the dissatisfaction amongst dentists, will he cause an inquiry to be made into the whole question of the payment of such fees?
§ Earl WintertonI have been asked to reply. The Dentists Act, 1921, provides that payment of the annual fee to which the hon. Member refers may be required only in the case of dentists registered after the commencement of the Act. This provision, which preserved the rights of those practising dentistry before the Act was passed, gave effect to a recommendation of the Interdepartmental Committee on the Dentists Act, 1878. So far as I am aware it has not caused any general dissatisfaction in the dental profession, and I do not consider that further inquiry into the question is called for.