§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he makes of the extent nationally that dentists are paid for their services in cash; if he will take steps to reduce or eliminate this; and if he will require that receipts be made available for all payments by patients before fee or item payments are issued.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe are not aware of the extent to which patients pay National Health Service charges in cash. We would not wish to take any steps to reduce patients' choice to make such payments by whatever method they find most convenient. Dentists are required by their terms of service to give patients receipts for any NHS charges paid and to include on the form which they use to claim fees the amount of any charges received or being claimed from the patient.