HC Deb 25 October 1994 vol 248 cc586-7W
Mr. Stevenson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she last met representatives of the British Dental Association to discuss the Green Paper on dental services.

Mr. Malone

I met representatives from the British Dental Association on 29 September, when a range of matters were discussed.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations she has received within the past 18 months from individual dental surgeons and the various professional bodies which represent them.

Mr. Malone

We received many written representations from, and held many meetings with, dentists and their representatives in the 18 months to July 1994. Since then, our consultation on the Green Paper "Improving NHS Dentistry" has increased our contacts with the profession. Officials have gone to many meetings organised by local dental committees and others to listen to dentists' views. The consultation period ends on 1 November.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what arrangements a dentist may reclaim a proportion of the business rates from his local family health services authority by declaring their percentage NHS private income; what details she has for the last three years of the trend in private dental income for non-completely de-registered dentists; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Malone

Dentists supplying treatment under the general dental services are entitled to reimbursement of non-domestic rates under determination 9 of the statement of dental remuneration. The level of remuneration is subject to annual minimum and maximum levels and reflects the percentage of general dental services income to the dentist against his total income. No information on the individual entitlement calculations is available centrally.