asked the Minister of Health if he will set up a dental priority committee to inquire into the distribution of dentists in the Services on the lines of the Medical Priority Committees.

The object which my hon. Friend has in mind is, in my view, adequately met by the existing arrangements, which provide for consultation with the Service Departments, the dental organisations, and other interested parties.

Will my right hon. Friend consider extending the function of the medical priority committees to include dental officers?

I am prepared to consider giving the medical priority committees the function of considering dentists as well as doctors, but, as my hon. Friend is aware, only the newly qualified dentists are, in fact, called up.