asked the Minister of Education how far he anticipates that he will be able to improve the school dental service in Lewisham during the year and thus reduce the waiting period for the children involved.

I am sure that the local education authority will do all it can in 1951 to improve the school dental service in Lewisham. If the present negotiations on the Dental Whitley Council result in a satisfactory settlement, I hope that there will be a substantial improvement in the school dental service generally.

asked the Minister of Education the number of dentists in full-time equivalent employment by local authorities at the end of 1950.

The number of dental officers in the school dental service at the end of 1950 was equivalent to 717 full-time officers.