asked the Minister of Health for an estimate of the number of dentists who will be eligible to retire from service under the National Health Scheme during each of the next six years; whether he will give an estimate of the number of persons who will qualify as dentists during each of these years under the existing training facilities; and what special steps are to be taken to make good the deficiency which will result, having regard to the estimate of the Teviot Committee that 20,000 dentists are required to provide a fully comprehensive service in Great Britain.

I am unable to make the estimates asked for and, as regards the expansion of training facilities for dentists, I would refer the hon. Member to the last report of the University Grants Committee (Cmd. 8473) published in February of this year.