HC Deb 07 July 2003 vol 408 c662W
Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in improving dental health for prisoners. [123304]

Dr. Ladyman

A "Strategy for Modernising Dental Services for Prisons in England" has been developed and was published at the end of April as a Prison Service Instruction.

The strategy will support prison health care managers in developing their dental services based on clear recommendations and in line with modernisation within the national health service. It also contains practical advice on service specification, outlines effective ways of commissioning dentists and explains how all developments need to be built on robust clinical governance arrangements. There is a three-year investment plan, to support the implementation of the strategy.