§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the need for NHS dental treatment in South East Cornwall; and if he will make a statement. [138276]
§ Mr. HuttonDemand for National Health Service dentistry remains high throughout Cornwall. We have invested £436,431 for 12 Investing in Dentistry grants, generating up to 37,500 extra registrations with dentists in Cornwall. In addition the personal dental services pilot scheme treats emergency and urgent patients at 20 sites across Cornwall.
On 28 September 1999 my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced that within two years there would be access to NHS dentistry for everyone who wants it via NHS Direct. The dental strategy, "Modernising NHS Dentistry—Implementing the NHS Plan", published on 19 September 2000, shows how that pledge can be met. The strategy focuses on the areas of access, quality and oral health and is supported by £100 million new funding. Responsibility for dentistry is devolved to health authorities, which will be performance managed on service provision in their area.