§ Ms Julie MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the percentage of dentistry in Wales which is carried out on the NHS. [80193]
Mr. Jon Owen JonesIn Wales at the end of September 1998, 60 per cent. of children and 46 per cent. of adults were registered with NHS dentists, having visited them at least once during the preceding 15 months.
NHS net spending on general dental services in Wales in 1997–98 rose to £56.2 million, a 6 per cent. increase over the previous year.
Over the same period, the number of courses of NHS treatment, for adults in Wales, rose by nearly 7 per cent. to 1.446 million.
The number of dentists treating patients under NHS arrangements in Wales reached an all-time high of 960 by the end of 1998.
Data on private dental treatment are not collected by the Welsh Office.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.