HC Deb 23 February 1971 vol 812 cc86-7W
61. Mr. McBride

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evidence is in his possession concerning the social status of regular attenders for dental treatment under the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

Sir K. Joseph

The evidence of the Survey of Adult Dental Health shows that although proportionately more people in Household Social Class I, II and III (non-manual) had some of their natural teeth and went to the dentist regularly, nevertheless in 1968 nearly half of all regular attenders came from Social Classes III (manual) IV and V.

77. Mr. Hunt

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the basis on which the Dental Estimates Board made its recent reductions in the discretionary fees paid to dentists.

Sir K. Joseph

I understand that, in reviewing these fees in the light of the most recent recommendations by the Dental Rates Study Group, the Dental Estimates Board had referred to the amounts fixed for analogous items in the scale of fees. the timings of the different operations and procedures involved and, where appropriate, current laboratory and workshop custs.