To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of (a) dental fees for items of service and (b) dental treatments in each of the last three years; and how much of the cost was borne by patients (i) in total and (ii) as a percentage of the overall cost in (A) England and (B) each English region in each of those years. (191510)

Prior to April 2006, primary dental services were provided under either former general dental services (GDS) or former personal dental services (PDS) pilot arrangements. Most services were provided under GDS. Under this system dentists were remunerated on a fee per item of service basis.

In a number of areas, PDS pilots were also established, where dentists were remunerated not on fee per item but on locally commissioned arrangements. The number of GDS practices converting to PDS pilots increased significantly over the years 2004-05 and 2005-06.

The information held by the Information Centre for health and social care on the expenditure by local area for national health service primary dental care under the former GDS and PDS arrangements in 2004-05 and 2005-06 has been placed in the Library.

Equivalent information is not available for 2006-07. Under the new contract arrangements for primary dental care services introduced from 1 April 2006, primary care trusts agree an annual contract value with dental contractors in return for delivery of an agreed level of dental activity. The former item of service fees were discontinued and payments can no longer be itemised by individual treatments.