§ Mr. Harold Daviesasked the Minister of Health (1) how many dental surgeons were in Leek, Kidsgrove, Biddulph and Cheadle, respectively, in the Leek constituenucy in the years 1948, 1953 and 1960; and what the number is at present;
(2) how many dental surgeons are available to do work at the schools in Leek, Kidsgrove, Cheadle and Biddulph, respectively; how often the children's teeth are examined; and how long these children have to wait in order to make them dentally fit.
§ Mr. BraineThe numbers of dental surgeons providing treatment under the general dental services at addresses in the places named are shown in the following table:
Town 1948 1953 1960 Now Leek 7 5 5 5 Kidsgrove 2 3 2 2 Biddulph 3 3 2 1 Cheadle 2 1 1 2 A dentist who now practices at both Leek and Cheadle has been shown against each town. The figures do not include assistants who have been employed by practitioners from time to time. My right hon. Friend has no information about dentists wholly in private practice.
I understand from my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for 16W Education and Science, that in addition one dentist is available in each town for work in schools, including part-time work: that school children's teeth are examined at least once every two years at Cheadle and Biddulph and every five years at Leek, but that it has not yet been possible to arrange regular inspection at Kidsgrove; the time taken to make children dentally fit depends on the extent of the treatment required.