§ Mr. Willie W. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what were the average annual expenses paid to dentists in the National Health Service in Scotland in the two years 1983–84 and 1984–85;
(2) what were the practice expenses paid in 1984 to each dentist in the National Health Service whose earnings were over £100,000.
§ Mr. John MacKayOnly estimated figures are yet available for average expenses—£26,051 for 1983–84 and £27,433 for 1984–85. Expenses are not directly reimbursed, but are allowed for in the general level of fees paid to dentists.
§ Mr. Willie W. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many dentists employed in the National Health Service in Scotland are in receipt of gross annual earnings of over £100,000;
(2) if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the gross earnings of dentists in the National Health Service in 1984, showing the highest and lowest annual earnings paid;
(3) how many dentists employed in the National Health Service in Scotland in 1984 had gross annual earnings of up to £20,000, £20,000 to £30,000, £30,000 to £40,000, £40,000 to £50,000, £50,000 to £60,000, £60,000 to £70,000 and £70,000 upwards.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe information is as follows:
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Number of general dental practitioners* Gross earnings in 1984† Number Up to £20,000 133 £20,000 to £30,000 132
Gross earnings in 1984† Number £30,000 to £40,000 242 £40,000 to £50,000 300 £50,000 to £60,000 157 £60,000 to £70,000 108 £70,000 to £100,000 73 Over £100,000 11 Lowest individual gross earnings = £102 Highest individual gross earnings = £133,716 * These numbers relate to principals and exclude practitioners not "in contract" with a Health Board for at least 50 weeks in the year. † Against the gross payments made to practitioners have to be set deductions in respect of surgery premises, equipment and supporting staff.
§ Mr. Willie W. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of examinations which took place in 1983 and 1984 of the work done by those National Health Service dentists with gross earnings of £100,000 in the relevant year; and with what results;
(2) how many examinations took place in 1984 of the work done by those National Health Service dentists with gross earnings of over £100,000; and what were the results.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe information is as follows:
1983 1984 Number of dentists with gross earnings of £100,000 or more 12 11 Number of references to the regional dental service in respect of work by those dentists 77 50 In five cases reported on by the regional dental service in 1983 and three cases in 1984, the dental advisers of the Scottish Dental Estimates Board considered that the work had been unsatisfactory.
§ Mr. Willie W. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were employed by the Scottish Dental Estimates Board for the purpose of monitoring dentists' activities in 1984; and what is the current total.
§ Mr. John MacKayAll staff of the Scottish Dental Estimates Board are engaged to some extent in monitoring dentists' activities. Staff numbers are as follows:
1984 1985 Dental advisers 4.5 4.5 Clerical and administrative staff 172.5 172.5 TOTAL 177 177