§ Mr. AshdownTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the reasons for the declining number of registrations with NHS dentists; and if he will make a statement. [104722]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 20 January 2000]: The decline in the recorded number of registrations since December 1993 is due to a variety of reasons, including improved systems which remove duplicate registrations, the change in the adult registration period from 24 to 15 months, and some dentists withdrawing from the General Dental Service or reducing their level of commitment to the National Health Service. There will also be some patients who may choose not to register with a dentist, but seek dental treatment only when a problem occurs. The establishment of Dental Access Centres in various parts of the country, announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister last September, will enable people not registered with a dentist but who want to see one, to access high quality NHS care. The Government are committed to ensuring that, within two years, anyone wanting to see a NHS dentist would be able to do so by ringing NHS Direct.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the White Paper on NHS Dentistry. [106721]
§ Mr. HuttonThe National Health Service dental strategy will be published shortly.