Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Andrew Murrison (Conservative) on Tuesday, 8 June 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 16 June 2004. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Wednesday, 16 June 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when discussions with the governments of (a) Poland, (b) Germany, (c) Denmark and (d) Spain on the recruitment of dentists from their countries began; if he will list the recruitment agencies used to recruit dentists from (a) Poland, (b) Germany, (c) Denmark and (d) Spain; and what the cost of using them has been to date; if he will list the countries with which his Department is in discussion regarding the recruitment of overseas dentists to work in the UK; and how far advanced these discussions are in each case; pursuant to the Oral statement by the honourable Member for Doncaster Central of 11th May 2004, 421 c22WH on dentists, how many dentists he expects to recruit from (a) Poland, (b) Germany, (c) Denmark and (d) Spain this year.
Answer

Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when discussions with the Governments of (a) Poland, (b) Germany, (c) Denmark and (d) Spain on the recruitment of dentists from their countries began; [178270] (2) if he will list the recruitment agencies used to recruit dentists from (a) Poland, (b) Germany, (c) Denmark and (d) Spain; and what the cost of using them has been to date; [178272] (3) if he will list the countries with which his Department is in discussion regarding the recruitment of overseas dentists to work in the UK; and how far advanced these discussions are in each case; [178274] (4) pursuant to the Oral statement by the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Doncaster, Central of 11 May 2004, Official Report, column 22WH, on dentists, how many dentists he expects to recruit from (a) Poland, (b) Germany, (c) Denmark and (d) Spain this year. [178278] Ms Rosie Winterton: A Government to Government agreement exists to recruit healthcare professionals from Spain. On this basis, plans are currently being developed to recruit dentists but no assessment of numbers has been made. The Department has signed an agreement to recruit at least 110 dentists from Poland and other parts of Europe via methods consulting. My right hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Health (Mr. Hutton) met with Polish Ministers in March to discuss matters of mutual interest. Discussions on the recruitment of dentists have since been followed up at official level. Earlier this month, the Department, at the request of the Danish employment service, provided information to Danish dentists wishing to work in England. Departmental officials met with their Indian counterparts in April and discussed how to improve the registration process for dentists who wish to practice in the United Kingdom. The number of dentists to be recruited from Poland, Denmark and Spain is not yet known.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
422 c1000-1W; 178270;178272;178274;178278
Session
2003-04
Subjects
Dental services Costs Dentistry EU countries Employment agencies Germany Recruitment Poland Migrant workers Spain Denmark
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk