HC Deb 19 July 2004 vol 424 c113W
Mr. Challen

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists in Morley and Rothwell constituency have taken commitment payments to devote more time to NHS dentistry. [179682]

Miss Melanie Johnson

18 general dental service (CDS) dentists in the Morley and Rothwell constituency received commitment payments in April 2004 for the quarter ending March 2004.

Commitment payments are based on dentists' gross fees, together with a patient registration requirement for the higher payments and are based on previous years, so do not require additional time in the future to be devoted to national health service dentistry. Commitment payments will be increased, up to a maximum threshold, if a dentist takes on additional CDS work.