asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many courses of treatment where full dentures were needed were given to patients over the age of 65 years in the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available;(2) how many patients over the age of 65 years received National Health Service dental treatment in the last year to a convenient date.

The number of courses of treatment provided to patients aged 65 and over in England in 1984 was 1,782,510. Of these, the number of treatments involving the provision of full or partial dentures was 341,640; the number of courses involving provision of full dentures is not known. Information on the number of patients involved in these courses of treatment is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the percentage of treatment costs borne by the average patient in the general dental service since April, excluding examinations and other exempt items of treatment.

This information is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients received dental treatment in each year since 1955; and if he will make a statement.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.