Written question asked by Simon Thomas (Plaid Cymru) on Wednesday, 4 April 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 April 2001. It was answered by Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour) on Monday, 23 April 2001 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement about the General Dental Council's decision not to allow dental patients access to professionals complementary to dentistry, with particular reference to clinical dental technicians.

Answer: Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the General Dental Council's decision not to allow dental patients access to professionals complementary to dentistry, with particular reference to clinical dental technicians. [157447] Mr. Hutton: Currently only two groups of professionals complementary to dentistry are registered by the General Dental Council (GDC): Dental therapists and dental hygienists. The GDC has agreed that additional groups should be registered including clinic dental technicians whom the GDC proposes should be allowed to work remote from the dental practice, but to the prescription of a dentist. Amendments to the Dentists Act 1984 would be required which we plan, in due course, to submit for scrutiny and debate by Parliament under section 60 of the Health Act 1999.

Secondary information