Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has had from the British Dental Association on the recent practices of the General Dental Council; and if he will make a statement.

Since May 2014, when the Professional Standards Authority announced that it was going to carry out an investigation on the General Dental Council (GDC), the Department has received a number of representations from the British Dental Association (BDA) regarding the recent practices of the GDC.

As at 14 November 2014, these representations included a letter from Dr Mick Armstrong, Chair of the BDA. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Quality (Earl Howe) provided a response on 28 July 2014 and I provided a response on 1 August 2014 regarding the competence of the GDC and the annual retention fee.

My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health (Jane Ellison), on 22 October 2014, also met with the BDA where they discussed wider regulatory issues facing dentists. Ministers have regular contact with the BDA and are aware of their concerns regarding the GDC fee increase.