§ Mr. Fortescueasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are employed by the Dental Estimates Board.
§ Mr. Crossman1,500. This figure includes part-time staff, and is equivalent to 1,179 whole-time staff.
§ Mr. Fortescueasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the annual cost of the Dental Estimates Board.
§ Mr. CrossmanAbout £1,484,000 in the year ended 31st December, 1968.
§ Mr. Fortescueasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many dentists are employed by the Dental Estimates Board.
§ Mr. CrossmanThirty-two, one of them part-time. Most of the board members are also dentally qualified.
§ Mr. Fortescueasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total saving, in the latest convenient annual period, to the Exchequer as a result of adjustments made to individual dentists' estimates owing to the recommendations of the Dental Estimates Board.
§ Mr. CrossmanIt is impossible to make a meaningful estimate in the form requested, nor would such an estimate be a satisfactory measure of the value of the board. A recent sample check suggested however that 7 per cent. of all dental estimate forms submitted to Eastbourne for payment contain errors affecting the amounts due to the dentist or the amount charged to the patient.
§ Mr. Fortescueasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to review the necessity for the Dental Estimates Board.
§ Mr. CrossmanNone.