§ 40. Miss Lestorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the survey of the condition of children's teeth.
§ Sir K. JosephA survey of the dental health of schoolchildren was carried out in England and Wales in the early part of this year by the social survey division of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys assisted by teams of dentists. The survey involved the dental examination of a random sample of schoolchildren aged 5–15 years in maintained schools followed by an interview with the mothers of children in some of the age groups.
The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys is analysing the information obtained and preparing it for incorporation into a report with a view to publication next year. The survey should provide valuable information about the state of children's dental health and of atti- 328W tudes towards using dental services and maintaining dental health. I hope that it will be of value in planning the future development of dental services for children.