§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the annual cost of abolishing all charges for dental checks; and what estimate he has made of the number of people who presently make some payment for such checks. [12786]
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§ Mr. MaloneThe annual cost of abolishing charges for dental examinations in England, based on 1995–96 prices and charges, is estimated to be about £60 million, at current levels of demand. The number of courses of treatment where patients pay some charge for dental examinations is estimated to have been approximately 14.5 million in 1995–96.