§ Mr. RichardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the schemes to improve NHS dentistry in(a) Conwy and (b) Denbighshire. [13944]
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe £3 million initiative announced in September 1995 enabled Welsh health authorities to offer grants to attract new dentists into those parts of Wales where they are most needed, and to expand the community dental service.
The effect of the initiative in Conwy and Denbighshire is that, in Conwy, grant aid has been offered for three new dental practices, one of which is already open, and to the Clwydian Community Care NHS trust to recruit an additional dentist in the community dental service. In Denbighshire, grant aid has been offered to one new dental practice that is already open, and to one existing practice that has taken on additional dentists. The Clwydian Community Care NHS trust has also been offered grant aid to recruit a new dentist for a new mobile surgery which is being funded by the Welsh Office initiative.