Mrs. Hillasked the Minister of Health whether he will now make a statement on the remuneration of general dental practitioners.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodAfter a full investigation into earnings and practice expenses, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, and I have agreed with the British Dental Association on an increase in the present remuneration of general dental practitioners. A new scale of fees is being worked out and the necessary regulations will be laid before the House in due course. The new scale will be designed to give dentists a net income comparable,20W having regard to the volume of work done, with what they would have received in the period covered by the investigation had the 10 per cent. reduction not then been in force. We have also agreed, as an interim measure while the new scale is being worked out, to cancel the 10 per cent. reduction in the present scale. Regulations with this effect will be laid as soon as possible. We estimate that the cost of these changes will be about £41 million in a full year.