§ Mrs. Clwydasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will extend the exemption from dental charges to those women who have borne a child in such a way that the exemption period for dental treatment extends to the end of the month in which the child's first birthday falls;
(2) if he will introduce a special item into the dental fee scale to pay for preventive advice for expectant and nursing mothers concerning the care of children's teeth and the prevention of dental disease;
(3) if he will remove the prior approval conditions under items 3 and 5 of the dental fee scale for pregnant women and for those who have borne a child within the previous 12 months;
(4) if he has any plans to extend exemption from dental charges to women who become pregnant during a course of dental treatment.
§ Mr. Hayhoe[pursuant to his reply, 28 October 1985]: The dental fee scale already provides for additional advice and additional treatment under item 3(a) to be given without prior approval to expectant and nursing mothers. I have no plans to make further special provision in the fee scale, to relax the prior approval arrangements nor to alter the rules relating to exemption from dental charges for this group of patients.