HC Deb 08 February 1990 vol 166 cc764-5W
Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will collect centrally DMF levels.

Mr. Freeman

Decennial surveys of the dental health of children and adults in the United Kingdom are conducted on behalf of the Department by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. The results of the adult dental health survey which has recently been carried out are due to be published later this year. The next survey of children's dental health is proposed for 1993.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission a dental health education project to assess tooth decay in north Staffordshire.

Mr. Freeman

Health authorities are responsible for monitoring the dental health of all age groups in the population of their areas and for providing dental health education and preventive programmes. I refer the hon. Member to the North Staffordshire health authority for the information she requires.