§ Dr. Summerskillasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what encouragement he intends to give to preventive dentistry within the National Health Service in order to counteract the effect of the zero-rating from VAT of sweets and chocolates.
§ Sir K. JosephI am awaiting the recommendations of the Working Party on Dental Services which is currently considering the need for including additional preventive treatments available under the National Health Service. Meanwhile one effect of the introduction of value added tax should be a reduction of between 5½ and 8½ per cent. in the retail price of toothpaste, the third occasion in less than two years on which my454W right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has reduced the tax on toothpaste.