Dental Check Ups

EDM number 552 in 1995-96, proposed by Simon Hughes on 29/02/1996.

That this House is deeply concerned at the steady reduction in numbers of people on dentists' lists since 1989, when charges for dental check-ups were introduced; notes the recent survey by the British Dental Association, which found that 50 per cent. of people would be more likely to go to the dentist more regularly if they were offered free dental check-ups; believes that the long-term health of the nation is at risk because tooth decay, gum disease and the symptoms of oral cancer are being missed; believes that such charges will thus cost the country far more in the long term; notes that restoring free dental checks would cost less than ú100 million, which could be paid for by an extra two pence on cigarettes; and calls upon the Labour Party to come off the fence on at least this one crucial issue and join the Liberal Democrats in pledging to restore free dental check-ups for all.

This motion has been signed by a total of 40 MPs, 2 of these signatures have been withdrawn.