§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he intends to take to ensure that dental surgery assistants whose salaries and conditions of employment are covered by Whitley councils are paid at the agreed level negotiated by the British Dental Association and the Association of British Dental Surgery Assistants.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe level of remuneration for dental surgery assistants employed in the hospital and community health services is not a matter for Ministers. It is settled in negotiation between the two sides of the Professional and Technical Staffs "B" Whitley council, within the pay resources available to it. The Whitley council is not responsible for the remuneration of dental surgery assistants employed in the family practitioner services.
I understand that the minimum rates published by the two associations to which the hon. Member refers are recommended for use in general dental practice but have no force. Actual pay in the family practitioner service is a matter for private arrangement in individual practices.