§ Jackie BallardTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for Wales by health authority(a) the number of dentists with an NHS list and (b) the average number of patients on each NHS list for each year since financial year 1995–96. [74258]
Mr. Jon Owen JonesThe information is given in the following table.
1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 Number of dentists in Wales treating at least some NHS patients1 North Wales 170 185 198 Dyfed Powys 128 133 136 Morgannwg 158 161 158 Bro Taf 198 201 205 Gwent 149 167 167 Wales 803 847 864 Patients on each NHS list2 North Wales 1,848 1,752 1,660 Dyfed Powys 1,729 1,674 1,539 Morgannwg 1,946 1,956 1,915 Bro Taf 1,857 1,678 1,667 Gwent 1,811 1,645 1,633 Wales 1,927 1,825 1,764 1 Principal dentists as at 31 March except for 1995–96 when data relate to 30 June 1996 2 Average number of registrations per principal dentists at 31 March. Includes patients seen by assistants and vocational trainees working on contracts held by principals. Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.