§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland by what date he will need to take a decision in order to ensure that the new Edinburgh dental hospital and postgraduate institute can be operative by the time of the closure of the present dental school.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThis depends upon the outcome of Lothian health board's forthcoming appraisal of possible sites.
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effect of the present financial situation of the Lothian health board on the programme for the establishment of the new Edinburgh dental hospital and postgraduate institute.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythI have already made it clear that the Government will meet the capital cost of providing the new dental hospital and institute. The running costs will be considered once we have the results of the Lothian health board's option appraisal. By that time I expect to have the health board's proposals for bringing their income and expenditure into balance.
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what factors he takes into account in determining the number of dental school places.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThis is a matter for the Universities Funding Council and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the numerical decline in the number
538W
Establishment Number of baths Number of shower-baths Access by prisoners Aberdeen 2 19 At least once per week Barlinnie 5 74 Unlimited access Castle Huntly — 18 Unlimited access during recreation Cornton Vale 33 39 Unlimited access Dumfries 5 34 Daily at specified times Dungavel 2 19 Unlimited access outwith working hours Edinburgh 3 43 Unlimited access during recreation Friarton 1 6 Prisoners shower daily Glenochil: Adult 1 41 Unlimited access Young offenders — 30 Daily following PT or work Greenock 1 26 Unlimited access Inverness 2 14 Unlimited access Longriggend 1 29 Three times per week Low Moss — 25 Unlimited access Noranside 4 18 Unlimited access Penninghame 1 11 Unlimited access outwith working hours Perth 3 69 Daily at specified times Peterhead 4 55 At least once per week of treatment consultations available from the Edinburgh dental hospital from their present annual level for each of the years of the rundown leading up to the closure of the present Edinburgh dental school.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythDetailed predictions about the level of treatment consultations up to the closure of Edinburgh dental school is a matter for discussion between Lothian health board and the university of Edinburgh as part of their overall closure programme.
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when his Department announced its decision to rebuild the Edinburgh dental hospital.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythWhen the McCallum working party report, "Review of Dental Provision in Scotland", was published in June 1989, we welcomed the recommendation that a replacement dental hospital should be built in Edinburgh. I have already made it clear that the Government will meet the capital cost but progress depends upon the outcome of Lothian health board's forthcoming appraisal of possible sites.