Mrs. Hillasked the Minister of Health what is the annual cost of the repair of dental appliances; what evidence he has found of deficiency in the technical processes or in the materials used; and whether he is satisfied that money spent in research and development work would not result in some economy.
§ Mr. VosperThe cost to the general dental service of repairs to dental appliances is about £1 million a year in England and Wales. Conditions as to the materials to be used in the making of dental appliances are prescribed by Regulation and I have no evidence suggesting that undue expenditure on repairs is being caused by deficiencies in the technical processes or materials employed. A number of bodies are undertaking research into dental materials and last year my predecessor appointed a Committee under the Chairmanship of Sir William Kelsey Fry to help to co-ordinate their activities.