Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Cat Smith and Simon Clarke

Tuesday 7th December 2021 Commons Chamber

[Cat Smith (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Lab)]

T3. The decay of NHS dentistry and indeed the cavity of NHS dentists across the country affects my constituents in Lancaster and Fleetwood, but I note that on 7 February 2018 the Chancellor spoke on his own website about the lack of NHS dentists in his constituency, too. Now that he is the Chancellor and holds the purse strings, how much longer do my constituents and his have to wait to find an NHS dentist? What financial support is he giving to ensure that NHS dentists are available to all our constituents?

[The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr Simon Clarke)]

The hon. Lady raises an important point. Of course, we delivered a record settlement for the Department of Health and Social Care at the recent spending review. That budget will rise to £177.4 billion in 2024-25. NHS dentistry is a top priority of that spend.