Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that all children have access to dental health education before 31 December 2023.

From 1 April 2023, responsibility for commissioning primary care dentistry to meet the needs of the local population, including for children, was delegated to integrated care boards (ICBs) across England.

Our plan for further reform of the NHS dental system is expected to be announced shortly to build on our reforms announced in July 2022. The plan will include how we can improve oral health outcomes for both adults and children for the longer term; how to improve access, particularly for new patients; and how to incentivise dental practices to deliver more NHS care.

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities is leading a wide-ranging multi-agency programme focussing on improving children’s oral health. This sits alongside local authorities existing responsibilities for bringing forward oral health-based interventions for the general population, as needed in their local areas.