§ Mrs. WiseTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many approvals were successfully processed by the Dental Estimates Board; and what was the value of that work approved for each month since April 1991;
(2) how many requests for prior approval were received by the Dental Estimates Board; and what was the value of that work which dentists wished to carry out, for each month since April 1991.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe information in the table shows the number of applications for prior approval submitted by general dental practitioners in England and Wales to the Dental Practice Board for the period April 1991 to March 1993. We have no reason to believe that the DPB failed to process any applications made during this period. The value of the dental work for which these applications were made is not routinely collated by the DPB.
492W
General dental services (England and Wales) Number of applications for prior approval1 April 1991 to March 1993 Number 1991 April2 7,000 May2 7,000 June2 6,000 July 6,583 August 5,308 September 4,437 October 5,746 November 4,717 December 3,331 1992 January 5,037 February 4,551 March 4,528 April 4,408 May 3,907 June 4,323 July3 6,378 August 10,624 September 17,765 October 24,609 November 24,069 December 23,591 1993 January 26,113 February 27,959 March 34,073 1 The small number of prior approval applications arising from investigation, Prior Approval Penalty and Targeting are excluded. 2 The figures for April to June 1991 are estimates.
3 The prior approval by value limit was reduced from £600 to £200 with effect from 8 July 1992.
§ Mrs. WiseTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total sum paid out to the general dental practitioners working within the national health service for each month since April 1991.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe information is shown in the table.
Payments to general dental practitioners—England 1991–92 £ million 1992–92 £ million April 90.582 116.408 May 91.807 116.576 June 94.140 111.830 July 100.276 114.106 August 104.808 113.243 September 92.334 101.281 October 99.553 98.397 November 108.703 101.686 December 111.130 102.551 January 100.896 105.225 February 115.203 99.171 March 114.359 94.849 Total 1,223.791 1,275.323 Source: Monthly expenditure returns submitted to the Department by family health services authorities and the Dental Practice Board.
Notes: Figures are the total of gross payments made to general dental practitioners in each month for all fees, allowances and directly reimbursed practice expenses, but exclude other General Dental Service costs such as payments to salaried dentists, emergency dental service fees, and employer's superannuation costs.