§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide funding support for those students who undertake dental technician courses.[8902]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 19 October 2001]: Trainee dental technicians employed by the National Health Service are already eligible to apply for funding support through their employers. However, most trainee dental technicians are employed in privately owned dental laboratories. The Department has funded a project to draw up and define appropriate qualifications for occupational standards for dental technicians. When they are agreed, funding support for these qualifications may be available from a number of sources, including employers.