§ Mr. Mitchisonasked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware that a dentist in Kettering has refused to accept a dental letter issued by an approved society or to undertake treatment of the patient upon the ground that a dispute exists between his, the dentist's, association and the Government; whether he will make a statement on this dispute; to what association and to how many dentists it extends in the Kettering Division; and whether he will give a list of 188W dentists willing to undertake treatment against letters issued by approved societies, or will otherwise facilitate the provision of dental treatment to insured persons in the Kettering area.
§ Mr. SteeleI am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a letter which my right hon. Friend sent to the chairman of the Joint Advisory Dental Council on 12th September, and which will, I hope, sufficiently explain the present difficulties which insured persons are experiencing in securing dental benefit. I am not aware of the circumstances of the particular case referred to, nor is it possible for me to supply information as to the position in particular areas. It is not a responsibility of my Department to make dental treatment available, but I am confident that approved societies will do whatever is possible to assist their members to secure treatment at the prescribed scale of fees.