HC Deb 21 February 2000 vol 344 cc782-3W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase access to NHS Dentistry. [110668]

Mr. Hutton

We recognise the problems of access to National Health Service dentistry which exist in parts of the country and which it inherited it 1997. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made it clear that, by the end of 2001, NHS dentistry will be a truly national service again. The Government have already addressed the problem with the Investing in Dentistry initiative, under which dentists were offered grants of £10 million in return for some 900,000 patient registrations, and the Personal Dental Service projects which include "phone and go" dental access centres. By the end of the year there will be about 40 access centres in the areas which need them most, providing the full range of high quality NHS dentistry to patients who are not registered with a dentist. Further measures will be set out in the forthcoming strategy for NHS dentistry in England.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria those firms certificated to remove used mercury-based amalgams from dentists' surgeries have to meet. [110483]

Mr. Hutton

Any person transporting waste, including amalgam, from dentists' surgeries in the course of their business is required, under the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989, to be registered with the Environment Agency as a "waste carrier".

Waste carriers are also subject to the "Duty of Care" under section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This requires that all reasonable steps should be taken to keep waste safe.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many firms have current contracts to collect and dispose of used mercury-based dentists' amalgams; and if he will make a statement. [110480]

Mr. Hutton

Contracts to collect wastes are a matter between the parties concerned and information on them is not held centrally. Businesses transporting wastes are required to be registered with the Environment Agency, but the register does not identify the types of waste transported.