§ Lord Colwynasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many people registered as asylum seekers or refugees are currently practising as dentists in the United Kingdom; and what action they are taking to encourage more dentist asylum seekers and refugees to take up practice. [HL1178]
§ Baroness AndrewsWe understand there are currently 122 refugee and asylum seeker dentists on a database that is jointly maintained by the Refugee Council and British Dental Association. Of these dentists, 72 are reported as having taken the international English language test, which a dentist has to pass at level 7 before he/she may take the General Dental Council's (GDC's) international qualifying examination (IQE). So far, 30 dentists have been successful and of these 20 have passed part A of the IQE, 11 part B and 3 have become eligible to practise here by passing part C of the examination.
We have worked with the GDC to reduce the backlog of non-European Union dentists waiting to take the IQE. With our support, the GDC has arranged for twice as many IQE sittings to be made available in 2004 than in 2003. Tenders have been invited for IQE provision in 2005–07 specifying that a guaranteed minimum completion time for dentists taking IQE is required. In addition, the Department of Health has recently agreed to support two extra sessions for retaining and returning advisers in the postgraduate dental deaneries to support dentists who are studying for the IQE, but who may require advice to maximise their chances of passing the exam.