HC Deb 17 May 1999 vol 331 cc268-9W
Mr. McWalter

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the benefits of introducing statutory registration of dental nurses. [83397]

Mr. Denham

In May 1998 the General Dental Council published a consultation document in which they suggested that, if statutory registration was introduced, dental nurses could extend the support they provide to dentists, provided the nurses had satisfactorily completed a period of approved, structured training. We await the outcome of these consultations with interest.