Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received regarding the General Dental Council's proposed increase to the annual retention fee for dentists.

Since 1 July 2014, the Department has received a number of representations regarding the General Dental Council’s (GDC) proposed increase to the annual retention fee for dentists. As at 3 September 2014, these representations included seven items of correspondence: one from the Chair of the GDC, one from the British Dental Association and five from Members of Parliament. The Department has received two related Parliamentary Questions and has responded to an e-petition opposing an increase in the GDC’s annual retention fee.

In my role as Parliamentary Under Secretary for Health, on 3 September 2014, I also met with the GDC where, amongst other things, concerns about the proposal fee rise were discussed.