§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in the light of the fact that certain dental practitioners in Leicestershire have commenced, or are about to commence, the withdrawal of certain dental services under the National Health Service because the fees payable by the National Health Service are below
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Type of certificate Date of increase Fee Full certificate of birth, death or marriage issued by Superintendent Registrars 1st July 1952 3s. 9d. 1st October 1968 8s. 0d. 1st October 1972 75p 1st October 1975 £2.50 Certified copy of entry issued by General Register Office 1st July 1952 3s. 9d. 1st October 1968 8s. 0d. 1st October 1972 75p 1st October 1975 £2.50 Certified copy of entry issued by General Register Office 1st July 1952 3s. 9d. 1st October 1968 8s.0d. 1st October 1972 75p 1st October 1975 £2.50 Certified copy of entry in registers kept by Registrars 1st July 1952 3s. 9d. 1st October 1968 5s. 0d. 1st October 1972 50p 1st October 1975 £1.25 Short certificate of birth obtained from a Register 1st July 1952 9d. 1st October 1968 3s. 0d. 1st October 1972 25p 1st October 1975 £1.25 Short certificate of birth obtained from a Superintendent Registrar or at General Register Office 1st July 1952 9d. 1st October 1968 3s. 0d. 1st October 1972 25p 1st October 1975 £1.25 Prior to 1968 a search fee was also chargeable. cost, what action he intends to take to remedy the matter.
§ Mr. EnnalsI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Grist) on 22nd November—[Vol. 939, c.656–7]. My difference of view with the dental profession is about the adjustment of fees to take account of past overpayments of expenses and not about the adequacy of dental fees. The annual review of fees has not taken place this year because the profession's representatives—the British Dental Association—walked out of the Dental Rates Study Group and refuses to return unless I forthwith agree to write off the past overpayments. I deplore the action of dentists who are withdrawing the provision of certain treatments under the NHS. At one time the British Dental Association condemned this practice as unethical. I have appealed to the Association not to make patients suffer because of the dispute about expenses. I have offered to consider any reasonable proposals for dealing with the overpayments and for changing the system of retrospective adjustment in the future. So far my offers have been rejected.