§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists are employed in dental 473W practices by general dental practitioners who contract with the health service in the latest year for which figures are available. [14066]
§ Mr. MaloneThe table sets out the number of dental assistants and vocational trainees employed by general dental practitioners at 30 September 1996.
General Dental Service: Number of dentists employed by a principal dentist on Health Authority Dental lists on 30 September 1996 (England) Number of dentists Assistants1 560 Vocational trainees 496 Total 1,056 1 Assistants are fully qualified dentists who do not have their own health authority contract number but work on that of a principal. 2 Vocational trainees are newly qualified dental graduates who must complete a year's vocational training in a selected practice before commencing unsupervised dental practice as a principal in the general dental service.