§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked Woe Minister of Education what is the present proportion of dental surgeons to children in the school dental service; how many dental surgeons have resigned from the service since he took office; whether he is aware that, in many places, the school dental service has ceased to exist, and dental departments in the schools have been closed for lack of officers; and what steps he is taking to remedy this position.
§ Mr. TomlinsonThe available statistics relate to the number of school dentists on 31st December each year. At the end of 1948 the ratio of dentists to school children was one to 6,170, reckoning part-time services at their full-time equivalent. On the following dates the equivalent numbers of full-time dental officers were:
I am greatly concerned about the difficulties now affecting this service. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and I are awaiting the decision of the local authorities on their participation in the Whitley Council machinery for the settlement of salary scales for dental officers.
31st December, 1946 … 753 31st December, 1947 … 921 31st December, 1948 … 868