§ Mr. BellinghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the impact on the public of the new contract for general dental practitioners.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe new contract for general dental practitioners means better all-round care for patients, including preventive treatment, under national health service arrangements. Patients now also receive more information about their dental care and the choices open to them. Forty-one per cent. of the population are exempt from dental changes. At present, those patients who are not exempt are charged a fixed proportion (75 per cent.) of the fee paid to the dentist for the treatment given. I have no plans to increase the proportional charge in the foreseeable future.