To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures have been taken or are planned with the introduction of a capitation scheme within the Government dental services to take account of the particular dental care needs of children in Northern Ireland with regard to levels of dental disease, deprivation factors and age profile of population.

[holding answer 27 June 1990]: It is not intended to introduce any specific measures particular to Northern Ireland. Additional payments to dentists, in the form of a one-off entry payment and an increase in the capitation fee, are made for children with excessive dental decay.