§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is her Department's estimate of the proportion of dental work that is now happening outside national health service pay scales(a) in total and (b) by region;
(2) what is the total value of dentistry that is paid for by the individual patient directly or indirectly through private insurance;
(3) what proportion of dentists' remuneration was paid by the NHS Dental Practice board in each of the last five years at 1993–94 prices;
(4) what information she has on the level of subscriptions to private dental insurance plans over the past four years; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. MaloneData are not available on the amount of dental treatment provided outside the national health service, the expenditure by patients on such private dental treatment, the proportion of dentists' income represented by earnings from private treatments, or the level of subscriptions to private dental insurance plans.
§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has had concerning the availability of national health service dentistry in areas of England.
§ Mr. MaloneWe have received a number of letters, some from right hon. and hon. Members, about the availability of national health service dentists. Family health services authorities in England report that they can help patients to find national health service dentists.