§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the figure of target average net income payable to dentists under the national health service as set by the Dental Rates Study Group.
§ Mr. DorrellTarget average net income—TANI—for general dental practitioners is determined by the Government in the light of recommendations from the independent Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body. For 1991–92, the Government accepted the review body's recommendation but decided to implement it in two stages. The effect has been the equivalent of setting TANI at the rate of £31,970 per annum for the period 1 April 1991 to 30 November 1991, with implementation of the full TANI of £33,010 per annum, as recommended by the review body, from 1 December 1991.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have withdrawn from the provision of dental treatment under the national health service since the introduction of the new dental contract.
§ Mr. DorrellI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) on 16 April at columns151–58.
Information is not available in the form requested. Between 1 October 1990, the date the new contract was introduced, and 28 February 1991, the latest date for which figures are available, there was a net decrease of 115, less than 0.7 per cent., in the total number of entries on family health services authority, FHSA, dental lists. A dentist may be on more than one list.