§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, under General Dental Services Regulation 18, general dental practitioners have a statutory right to be present during the examination of their patients by dental officers of his Department; and whether the regulations also apply to Scotland and Wales.
§ Mr. MoyleThere is no statutory right but the standard text of the letter, sent to a dentist about the examination of one of his patients by a dental officer of the Department, invites him to be present at the examination. The National Health Service (General Dental Services) Regulations 1973 also apply to Wales and similar arrangements apply to Scotland.