§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many centres of population have organised emergency week-end services for dental treatment.
§ Mr. CrossmanI regret that this information is not available. General dental practitioners are remunerated on an item-of-service basis, and the rates are not designed to cover the cost of keeping surgery and staff available outside normal hours against the possibility of an emergency, I could not justify the cost of special payments for these purposes. I share the view arrived at by the Estimates Committee a few years ago that it would not be appropriate to use public funds for this purpose.