§ 40. Sir H. Lucas-Toothasked the Minister of Health how many local health authorities have no facilities for the dental care of expectant and nursing mothers and of children who have not attained school age; and whether he will circulate with the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving particulars of those authorities providing such facilities, giving the number of dentists employed in each case.
§ 41. Mr. Walker-Smithasked the Minister of Health what arrangements he has made to enable expectant and nursing mothers to receive free dentures when the local authority concerned is not able to provide any such service under Part III of the National Health Service Act, 1946, by reason of the shortage of dentists.
§ Mr. MarquandAll local health authorities have a statutory duty to arrange for the dental care of these priority classes, and all have included provisions for this in their statutory proposals for carrying out that duty, which they have to submit to me. Some authorities, however, have been unable to implement their proposals owing to difficulty in obtaining the many dentists required, and I am obtaining up-to-date information on this which I will communicate to the hon. Members as soon as possible. In such cases dentures are obtainable, of course, under the General Dental Service and the Assistance Board is available for hardship cases in the usual way.