§ Mr. HammondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on voluntary organisations concerned with the care of the elderly of the registration fee imposed by the Care Standards Act 2000. [130703]
§ Dr. LadymanThe fees payable by care providers registered under the Care Standards Act were the subject of a wide-ranging public consultation in 2001. As part of the funding arrangements, we expect the costs associated with regulatory fee increases to be passed on by providers through increased fees to service users and commissioners of services. This would mean, for example, that local authorities would pay higher amounts and their financial settlements from central Government reflect this.
The Government are committed to a review of the framework for regulatory fees in 2004. This review will include a further public consultation.
624W(2) many dental practices there were in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear, (d) the North East and (e) UK (i) in 1980, (ii) in 1990, (iii) in 2000 and (iv) on the latest date for which figures are available. [128897]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe table gives the requested information for the number of general dental service (GDS) practices. The information is available from 1991. Information is given for 1995, 1996 and 2002 because of the changes in health administration areas.
No information is available currently on the number of totally private dental practices. The Office of Fair Trading Report, The private dentistry market in the U.K. states that about 210 practices are totally private (para 3.30).