§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the average starting salary of a dentist leaving training and going into(a) an NHS practice and (b) private practice was in 2003; [147595]
(2) what proportion of dentists, after training, went into (a) an NHS practice and (b) private practice in 2003. [147599]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonNewly qualified dentists who wish to work in the national health service general dental services are first required to undergo one year's vocational training. The Department does not collect information on the proportion of dentists who go into NHS or private practice after training. There are relatively few dentists who do all of their dental work privately. The Office of Fair Trading's report, "The Private Dentistry Market in the U.K." stated that about 210 dental practises are totally private, out of 11,000 dental practises. Currently the starting salary for a vocational trainee dentist is £25,776 per annum.
§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists left training in England in each of the last five years. [147598]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe available information, for the numbers of undergraduates in the United Kingdom admitted to dental schools and of those obtaining their first qualification, for the period 1997–98 to 2001–02, is shown in the table.