§ Mr. HammondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the planned increase is in total spending on NHS dental services between 2000–01 and 2003–04. [133391]
§ Ms StuartThe information is not available in the form requested.
Expenditure on the General Dental Services is non-cash limited and is mainly determined by the level of demand for NHS care and the volume and type of treatments provided by dentists. Funding for the community and hospital dental services is not determined centrally, but by individual health authorities in the light of their local priorities and circumstances.
Our plans for the improvement and future direction of primary dental services, including personal dental services, will be set out in its Dental Strategy to be published shortly.