asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the shortage of school dentists and the urgent need of adequate dental treatment for school-children, he will reconsider the possibility of permitting the employment of alien dentists, and inquire further into the question of appropriate qualification.

An administrative memorandum issued by my Department in April, 1942, a copy of which I am sending my hon. Friend, stated that alien dentists may be employed in the school dental service if they have been admitted to the foreign hit of the Dental Register or, alternatively, if they are qualified as doctor and have been admitted or are eligible for admission to the foreign list of the Medical Register under the Temporary Registration Order or otherwise. A number of alien dentists have been employed by local education authorities in the school dental service. The question of admission to these registers is one for the General Medical Council.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that a number of children are not receiving the dental attention that they should have, while at the same time there are alien dentists in this country who, though they may not have the same qualifications as English dentists, are able to attend to some of those children?

I am naturally aware of the shortage there is in war time, but I think my answer covers the case of alien dentists.