HC Deb 22 July 1991 vol 195 cc379-80W
Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for each health authority in Wales the number, and percentage, of children registered with a dental practitioner.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

The information, which relates to children under the age of 18 registered at the end of June 1991 in each FHSA area, is given in the following table.

FHSA Number of children registered Percentage of relevant population1
Clwyd 43,361 46
Dyfed 34,807 45
Gwent 46,022 44
Gwynedd 22,986 43
Mid Glamorgan 51,782 40
Powys 10,676 42
South Glamorgan 46,847 49
West Glamorgan 43,174 53
1 1989 mid-June estimated population figures used.

Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the population per dentist in(a) 1979 and (b) for the latest available date for each health authority area in Wales.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

The information, by FHSA area, is given in the following table:

Population per dentist as at 1 October
FHSA 1979 1990
Clwyd 5,501 3,704
Dyfed 4,719 3,598
Gwent 4,738 3,574
FHSA 1979 1990
Gwynedd 4,270 3,490
Mid Glamorgan 5,485 4,016
Powys 5,637 3,435
South Glamorgan 3,756 3,085
West Glamorgan 3,426 2,688

Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he intends to increase the capitation rates paid to dental practitioners for the treatment of children.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

All dental fees, including capitation rates, are recommended to the Secretaries of State by the independent Dental Rates Studies Group. All are kept under review.

Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the percentage of school children in Wales inspected by the community dental service in the latest available year and for previous years for which data are available.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

The information is given in the following table:

Percentage of school children1 inspected by Community Dental Service
Year Number
1971 58
1972 56
1973 66
1974 54
1975 59
1976 47
1977 55
1978 59
1979 57
1980 65
1981 70
1982 68
1983 72
1984 71
1985 72
1986–87 72
1987–88 71
1988–89 64
1989–90 61
1 School children aged over 5 in maintained schools.