Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

NHS Dental Services: Norfolk

Tuesday 25 November 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Questions on NHS Dental Services in Norfolk
  • Ben Goldsborough reported an increase in the percentage of adults seen by dentists from below 30% to over 40%
  • James Wild inquired about the status of the spending envelope for dentistry and the direction to the Office for Students for a competition for new dental places

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ben Goldsborough Lab South Norfolk
NHS
Context

The share of adults in Norfolk seen by a dentist has risen from barely scraping 30% to well over 40% since the Labour Government took office, but there is still more work to be done. The University of East Anglia proposed establishing a dental school as part of the solution.

Question

After 16 months of a Labour Government, the share of adults in Norfolk seen by a dentist has risen from barely scraping 30% to well over 40%—lots done, but lots more to be done. The University of East Anglia proposed a dental school as part of the solution. Will the Minister work with Department for Education colleagues to ensure that the Office for Students and other bodies give it the green light?

Answer from The Minister for Care (Stephen Kinnock)

I, too, am absolutely delighted that more patients can see a dentist in Norfolk but, as my hon. Friend says, there is a long way to go. We are certainly not complacent, but we are showing that it is possible to turn things around. I am also pleased that the University of East Anglia has been approved as a dental school by the General Dental Council. The Office for Students has statutory responsibility for allocating dental school places, but I fully agree that UEA would be a good candidate for any additional Government-funded places allocated in future.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific details on working with Department for Education colleagues to ensure approval from the Office for Students and other bodies.

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Q2 James Wild Con North West Norfolk
NHS Education
Context

The Minister told the Health and Social Care Committee that the spending envelope for dentistry would be confirmed by the end of the summer at the latest. There is concern about whether the Office for Students will receive a ministerial direction to launch a competition for new places, allowing University of East Anglia (UEA) to bid alongside other institutions.

Question

The Minister told the Health and Social Care Committee that the spending envelope for dentistry would be confirmed by the end of the summer at the latest. Is the Office for Students still waiting for a ministerial direction to launch that competition for new places, so that UEA can bid along with others and so that we can get training places in Norfolk for the first time?

Answer from The Minister for Care (Stephen Kinnock)

The hon. Gentleman is right: it is the Government’s responsibility to give a steer to the Office for Students, and we are very close to being able to put that together. I am expecting some advice from my officials later in the week, and I shall be happy to keep the hon. Gentleman updated on further progress.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not confirm whether the Office for Students is still waiting for a ministerial direction but indicated that he expects advice from his officials soon.

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