§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if it is his intention only to increase dental charges in line with inflation; and if he is satisfied that no disincentive effects are anticipated as a result of recent increases.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergGiven the overriding need to maintain control of public expenditure, in the next financial year it will be necessary to increase the revenue yield in real terms from dental charges; the alternative would be to make cuts in services. The available figures show that there has been a steady increase in the number of courses of dental treatment provided since this Government took office, which suggests that patients are continuing to look after their dental health.