§ 25. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Health to what extent disparity exists in the availability of dentists in different areas of England and Wales; in particular, what is the shortage of dentists in the Borough of Leyton and in the County of Essex; and what are the prospects for the next five years of a substantial increase in the training of dentists.
§ Miss PittThe number of persons per dentist in the general dental service varies from 3,100 in London and the South East to 5,900 in the Midlands and North Midlands. The figures for the County of Essex and the Borough of Leyton, 4,750 and about 4,300 respectively, are rather higher than the average for England and Wales, which is 4,200. I regret that no estimate of shortages in particular areas is available.
Plans for the expansion of dental training facilities are well under way.