§ Lord Colwynasked Her Majesty's Government:
What consideration they have given to the British Dental Association's suggestion for a manpower review of NHS dentistry as recommended in 134WA paragraph 7.7 of the 26th Report of the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration.
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonWe are giving consideration to the suggestion of a workforce review.
§ Lord Colwynasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they accept the recommendation contained in paragraph 7.35 of the 26th Report of the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration that sums exceeding £10 million should be paid into access schemes to improve the availability of NHS dentistry.
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonWe have noted the Review Body's comment about the sums which could be needed to make a significant impact on difficulties of access to the general dental services. We are currently considering how best to use the resources available to help ensure that patients who would otherwise have difficulty receiving general dental services can do so.
§ Lord Colwynasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made in providing compensation to dentists in cases where the fee scale is more than one financial year out of date as recommended in paragraph 7.25 of the 26th Report of the Review body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration.
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonThis was implemented on 1 April 1997. From that date, dentists are automatically paid compensation in cases where the fee scale applicable to a course of treatment is more than one financial year out of date.