§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on when new NHS dentists' practices will be established in Shropshire. [60157]
§ Mr. MilburnSeven investing in dentistry funding requests from Shropshire Health Authority have been approved by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to help improve the availability of National Health Service dental services in Shropshire. Of the seven approvals, three were for new practices, three were for practice expansions and one was for an emergency dental service. The new practices are in Shrewsbury, Cleobury Mortimer and Dawley, Telford, all of which have now opened. Access to NHS dentistry in the area should also benefit from the first-wave personal dental service pilot in Shropshire, which will start in January 1999.