asked the Minister of Health why the Dental Estimates Board employ investigators to make inquiries from patients of dentists regarding the methods used by the dental surgeons, instead of interviewing the surgeons themselves.

The Board is responsible for seeing that fees claimed by dentists are properly payable. This may necessitate inquiries from patients.

asked the Minister of Health what request was made by the Dental Estimates Board to the Lancashire County Police for an investigation to be made into the methods employed by a Leyland dental surgeon; and what consultations it had with the police regarding the nature of its investigations.

I understand that the Board brought certain facts to the attention of the Lancashire County Police.