HC Deb 27 April 1999 vol 330 cc100-1W
Jackie Ballard

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has for the long-term future of dentistry in the NHS; [81875]

(2) what plans he has to ensure a comprehensive NHS dentistry service is available throughout the country; [81874]

(3) what is the Government's long-term policy on NHS dentistry. [81873]

Mr. Denham

These issues are under consideration as part of the strategy for National Health Service Dentistry that we will publish in due course.

Jackie Ballard

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what target his Department has set for the number of dentists providing NHS services per 1,000 population. [81865]

Mr. Denham

Health authorities are responsible for monitoring the provision of National Health Service dental services in the area. The table shows that on 31 December of each year from 1996 to 1998, there was an increase in the number of dentists providing general dental services per 1,000 population.

General Dental Service: Number of GDS dentists 1 per 1,000 population at 31 December in England
Year Number Per 1,000 population
1996 16,341 0.33
1997 16,722 0.34
1998 17,266 0.35
1 The number of dentists are a head count not whole time equivalents

Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many bids have been received from dentists in Northavon since the launch of his Investing in Dentistry initiative; and how many of these have been successful. [81955]

Mr. Denham

No Investing in Dentistry funding requests have been received from Northavon.