HC Deb 29 October 1979 vol 972 cc443-5W
Mr. Stoddart

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how much his Department has spent in each of the five years 1974 to 1978 on health education relating to dental care;

(2) how much his Department has spent in each of the five years 1974 to 1978 on health education specifically related to the care and preservation of children's teeth.

Sir George Young

The Health Education Council, which is funded by the Department and responsible for health

the number of places provided in such centres is adequate and have no plans to increase the overall number.

are available; and, if available, if he will give an age breakdown.

Mrs. Chalker

14,355 men and 633 women used the Supplementary Benefits Commission's reception centres, including resettlement units, in the 12 months ended 31 July 1979. Their ages were:

education on a national scale in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, has spent the following sums on dental health campaigns and research in the last five financial years:

£
1974–75 10,610
1975–76 34,679
1976–77 26,085
1977–78 27,216
1978–79 164,403

The cost of health education related to children's dental care cannot be separated from these figures.

A great deal of dental health education is carried out locally in the National Health Service by dental staff and health education departments of health authorities, but the cost of this cannot easily be extracted from authorities' overall expenditure on health education.