§ Mr. Sean HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what are the current calculations of his Department as to future dental manpower needs in the United Kingdom;
(2) how many registered dentists there are currently practising in the general dental service in England and Wales; and how many are on the dental register.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe total number of general dental practitioners providing general dental services in England and Wales as at 30 September 1988 was 15,868. The number of dentists on the United Kingdom dental register at 31 January 1988 was 25,286. Many dentists remain on the register after retirement while others are taking career breaks.
The Department published in 1987 its projections of supply and demand for dental manpower in the report "Dental Manpower". A copy is available in the Library. The report recommended that in order to achieve a desirable level of supply it is necessary to reduce the intake to United Kingdom dental schools by 10 per cent. The Government have accepted that recommendation.