§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many dental practices in each Northern Ireland health authority area have ceased providing general dental services in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [147383]
§ Angela SmithThe information requested is not available. The Department will be developing a new strategy for primary care dentistry, taking account of the recent reviews of the Dental Workplace and the Community Dental Service, and an important part of any new system of delivery will be to ensure that patients are able to access health service dental care.