§ 57. Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Education how many dentists have entered the school dental service in Wales in the last 12 months; to what extent the service is now below establishment; and what steps she will take to improve recruitment.
§ Miss HorsbrughThe equivalent of two and a half more full-time officers were working in the school dental service in Wales at the end of 1953 compared with the end of 1952. For the present school population, the equivalent of some 87 additional full-time officers would be required in Wales to give a ratio of one dentist to 3,000 children. The Government's policy has brought the total number of school dentists up to the highest figure yet reached and will, I hope, lead to further increases; it is, however, the primary responsibility of local education authorities to take the measures necessary to recruit the dentists required for the service in their own areas.
§ Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Education how many dentists have entered the school dental service in Glamorgan in the last 12 months; to what extent the service is now below establishment; and what steps she will take to improve recruitment.
§ Miss HorsbrughThere were the equivalent of one and a half fewer full-time dentists employed in the Glamorgan school dental service at the end of 1953 compared with the end of 1952. For the present school population the equivalent of some 31 additional full-time officers would be required in Glamorgan to give a ratio of one dentist to 3,000 children. On the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer 1 have given him to his previous Question today about the school dental service in Wales.