§ Mr. Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what immediate action he is considering to remedy the shortage of dentists operating in the National Health Service.
§ Sir K. JosephThe Working Party on Dental Services is currently considering, among other questions, problems of dental manpower. Meanwhile the number of dentists practising in the general dental services in England continues to increase. In the year ended 30th September 1972 numbers rose by 223 to 10,750, the highest on record. I am hopeful that this trend will continue as I understand that in recent years dental schools in Great Britain have been able to fill nearly all available student places; plans to increase the capacity of schools by a further 74 places are in hand.