§ Mr. Vaughan-Morganasked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that local health authorities in England and Wales are making adequate arrangements for the dental treatment of expectant and nursing mothers and children under the age of five years; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Iainasked Many local authorities have had difficulties in engaging enough dental officers, and I cannot yet be satisfied that the arrangements made are generally adequate. There has, however, been a gratifying improvement in the 120W past few years in the number of sessions devoted to this work, the number of mothers and children treated and the increasing emphasis generally on conservative treatment rather than extraction. I have recently issued to local health authorities a memorandum on dental treatment and health education for mothers and young children suggesting ways in which these services can be developed, and I am confident that authorities will wish to respond to this lead.