Dental Care

Lord Duncan of Springbank Excerpts
Wednesday 20th May 2020

(4 years, 1 month ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Bethell Portrait Lord Bethell
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The noble Lord’s concerns are well understood. Practices that depend on private income are particularly affected, because the NHS has guaranteed the income to NHS practices for their NHS work. We are working on a UK-wide national plan, and it is a massive priority for the Government.

Lord Duncan of Springbank Portrait Lord Duncan of Springbank (Con)
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My Lords, I echo the points made by the previous speaker: £7.8 billion is spent on private dental health care, yet dental practices of this nature are among the only businesses not to receive the full business rate relief. Will the Minister commit to ensuring that they receive adequate provision, as a matter of urgency, to ensure that these practitioners do not disappear from the high street?

Lord Bethell Portrait Lord Bethell
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My Lords, I cannot make the commitment that my noble friend seeks at the Dispatch Box, but I promise to convey his thoughts to the discussions taking place between DHSC colleagues and the Treasury.