§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of dental reference officers for the United Kingdom for the last five years.
§ Mrs. Currie[holding answer 10 December 1987]: The number of dental officers in the dental reference service in England, at 31 December was:
General Service Specialist Orthodontic Officers (whole time equivalent) in post 1982 21.2 2.0 1983 19.4 3.0 1984 21.7 3.0 1985 19.7 3.0 1986 22.2 2.5 On the basis of available statistics, the whole-time equivalent number of general service officers in 1987 is projected to be in the region of 25 and there were 2.5 specialist orthodontic officers in post over the full year.
Staff numbers in the reference services in other parts of the United Kingdom are matters for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Northern Ireland.