HC Deb 21 February 1986 vol 92 cc387-8W
Mr. Favell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has received for bringing denture specialists into direct contact with the public; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hayhoe

Under current legislation only dentists or doctors may fit dentures. Last year however the Association for Dental Prosthesis asked the Office of Fair Trading to enquire into the arrangements for the supply of

the various categories, at Kettering general hospital; and how this compares with the average (a) for the Oxford region and (b) nationally.

Mr. Whitney

The information requested is given in the table:

dentures to the public. After conducting a survey, the Director of Fair Trading reported that there was little evidence of National Health Service dentists making monopoly profits from providing dentures because my Department controls the prices so closely, and that it was unlikely that dental technicians could provide NHS dentures more cheaply. In these circumstances I have no plans to change the present law.

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