§ Mr. Bairdasked the Minister of Health what action it is proposed to take to give effect to the recommendations in the Final Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Dentistry.
§ Mr. BevanThe Committee's recommendations concern measures to secure an adequate number of dentists for the population, legislation dealing with the practice of dentistry and the government of the dental profession, and a number of matters concerning dental research. Many of the Committee's proposals are, in the first place, matters for educational authorities to study in framing their future policy. The Government accordingly invite universities, dental schools, and teaching hospitals to consider the report. The Government will consider the introduction, as soon as practicable, of legislation relating to those recommendations which deal with the practice of dentistry and the government of the dental profession. For the rest the Government appreciate the great importance to the community of dental care as part of a comprehensive Health Service. They have already decided to provide for distribution by the University Grants Committee during the academic year 1946–47 an additional sum of £100,000 to assist dental schools in meeting increased recurrent expenditure on dental education which will be incurred in catering for an increased intake of dental students. They also accept the principle that grants towards capital expenditure required by dental schools for the same purpose 97W should be made through the University Grants Committee. In the matter of dental research the Medical Research Council have accepted a recommendation that, to assist them in their work in this field, they should reconstitute their Dental Research Committee. This part of their work has, in the past, been in some measure assisted by grants from the Dental Board which may no longer be available when the Committee's legislative proposals are carried through. The Council will, however, be able to finance this work wholly from the general grant in aid which they receive from the Exchequer.
The Government have considered the Committee's recommendations regarding financial assistance for dental students. Under the Government's Further Education and Training Scheme, a substantial number of ex-Service men and women are now receiving awards to enable them to begin or complete courses of training as dental students and further awards are under consideration. As regards boys and girls leaving school to go to university, it is the Government's policy now— as announced recently by the Minister of Education—to assist up to the full approved cost of fees and maintenance (after taking account of the contribution of parents or guardians) winners of open scholarships and exhibitions and State scholars, including dental students falling into these categories. Local education authorities whose expenditure has been thereby relieved are at the same time being encouraged to increase and extend the assistance they have given to other university students, and it is important that the opportunities in dentistry should be made known to suitable candidates and that the assistance given them should be sufficient to ensure that they are enabled to qualify for the profession. In Scotland where all financial assistance to students from public funds comes through the education authorities, the Secretary of State is giving effect to the Government policy by making regulations to secure that awards are similarly adequate in amount. The Government understand that most, if not all, dental schools are, during the current academic year, full to present capacity—a high proportion of students being ex-Service men and women —and they do not think it necessary at this stage to consider making any further special provision for dental students. 98W They will, however, carefully watch the position