§ Mr. Bill O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on free dental check-ups within the NHS. [22564]
§ Mr. MilburnDental charges are being examined as part of the comprehensive spending review, which is looking at all aspects of the Department's spending in the context of the Government's election manifesto commitment
if you are ill or injured there will be a national health service there to help; and access to it will be based on need and need alone—not on your ability to pay, or on who your general practitioner happens to be or on where you live".
§ Mr. Bill O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met representatives of the dental profession to discuss improvements in the dental services within the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [22562]
§ Mr. MilburnThere are frequent meetings to discuss different aspects of dentistry between Departmental Ministers or officials and the representatives of the dental profession. Most recently, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met representatives of the General Dental Council on 24 November, and I met representatives of the General Dental Services Committee from the British Dental Association on 19 November 1997.