§ Mrs. Renee Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what consideration is being given to paying dentists a capitation fee for children regardless of the treatment given;
(2) if he is satisfied that enough attention is being given to preventive as opposed to corrective dental care; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what reviews there have been of dental strategy in 1981; if he will publish these; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. Vaughan:The Dental Strategy Review Group's report "Towards Better Dental Health" was published on 22 September 1981. Among the many recommendations in the report was one advocating a voluntary capitation fee system for maintaining dental fitness of young children. The group saw this as part of an overall preventive dental strategy and I very much welcome the emphasis in the report on preventive dental care. We are consulting widely on the report, a copy of which is in the Library.