To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental laboratories there were in (a) England and (b) North Dorset in December 2005; and what estimate she has made of the number of dental laboratories which have closed in each area since this date. (86094)

Between December 2005 and July 2006, the number of dental laboratories registered under the medical devices directive in the United Kingdom increased from 3,090 to 3,104. We do not have any more detailed information on numbers of laboratories, as dental laboratories are private enterprises with which the national health service has no contractual relationship.