HC Deb 03 July 1990 vol 175 cc561-2W
Mr. Teddy Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the total fees paid to national health service dentists for work relating to dentures is related to the cost of laboratory work; and if such a specific percentage is taken into account by the dental rates study group in arriving at fee assessments.

Mr. Dorrell

[holding answer 2 July 1990]: In the current scale of fees for national health service dental treatment, which came into effect on 1 October 1989, approximately 52 per cent. of the total fees available to dentists for the provision and fitting of dentures is attributable to dental laboratory work. The fee for each item of treatment involving laboratory work is, however, calculated separately by the dental rates study group, using a representative sample of current industry catalogues to indicate the cost of the laboratory work involved.