§ Mr. AshdownTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he expects to announce the Government's plans to improve the availability of NHS dentistry in(a) Somerset and (b) England as a whole; [104720]
(2) if he will make a statement on the availability of NHS dentistry in the Yeovil constituency; [104721]
(3) what assessment he has made of the areas of England where it is most difficult to register as an adult with an NHS dentist; and if he will make a statement. [104718]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Government are aware of the current problems experienced in accessing dental services, which we inherited from the previous Government. Access problems for adults are most acute in the south and west of the country, including the Yeovil constituency. We have taken positive steps to address these problems. The Investing in Dentistry initiative saw a £10 million investment in dentistry, including eight approved bids in Somerset, one of which was in Yeovil, while the personal dental services pilots have allowed for local flexibility in service provision. £203,000 has been awarded in grants in Somerset which will allow for 18,750 additional registrations.
We are also piloting dental access centres, providing fast and convenient access to dentistry in areas with acute access problems. Two dental access centres opened last year, and a further six will come on line this winter. On 5 January my noble Friend Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, the Under-Secretary of State, announced 34 successful expressions of interest for a third wave of dental access centre pilots. A proposal from Somerset has been successful at this stage. These potential centres must now submit a full business case, and if successful, will be operational by the end of the year.
More will be done to address problems of access in the NHS dental strategy. The strategy, to be published shortly, will set the future pace and direction of development of dentistry in England.
§ Mr. AshdownTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of(a) adults and (b) children were registered with an NHS dentist in each English county in (i) 1985–86, (ii) 1990–91, (iii) 1995–96, (iv) 1996–97, (v) 1997–98, (vi) 1998–99 and (vii) 1999–2000; and if he will make a statement; [104716]
(2) what was the total number of (a) adults and (b) children registered with an NHS dentist in each year since 1985 in (i) Somerset and (ii) Yeovil constitutency; and if he will make a statement. [104717]
§ Mr. HuttonThe information requested has been placed in the Library.