§ Mr. BaronTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish an order under section 60 of the Health Act 1999 to amend the Dentists Act 1984 to introduce Clinical Dental Technicians and other Professions Complementary to Dentistry. [186591]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonWe issued a draft of an Order for consultation on 30 July which, with other amendments to the Dentists Act 1984 to modernise the regulation of dentistry, would give the General Dental Council powers to register additional classes of professional complementary to dentistry including dental nurses, dental technicians and clinical dental technicians. Comments on the draft are requested by 30 October and it will subsequently be laid before Parliament for debate under the affirmative procedure. Subject to approval, we expect the Order to come into force during 2005.