§ 52. Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent increases in costs were a factor in his decision to raise dental charges; and to what extent the increase is an increase in real terms.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergAs explained in the White Paper on Government expenditure—Cmnd. 8175—charges to patients will normally be increased annually in line with costs. It is intended, however, to increase dental charges from 1 April 1982 to raise about £27 million more to help to meet the cost of the NHS. The details of the charges for individual items of treatment will he announced later.
I regret that in my answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Stechford (Mr. Davis) on 7 December 1981—[Vol. 14, c. 311]—I said that it was estimated that costs for the dental service would increase by 16 per cent. between 1981 and 1982. This was not correct. The latest estimate is that costs in 1982 will probably be about 7 per