§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she is satisfied that the present scale of charges for dental treatment is not leading to a lowering of the standards of dental health care of the population; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. OwenI am satisfied that patients are not being deterred from seeking dental treatment by the changes announced by my right hon. Friend in her reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mr. Tomlinson) on 20th November 1975.—[Vol. 901, c.2–6.] While the charge payable by patients for individual items has been increased, the initial examina- 682W tion remains free and the maximum charge for treatment excluding dentures has been greatly reduced. Moreover, changes in the system of financial help should mean that more people with low incomes will not have to pay all or part of the charge.