Oral Answers to Questions

Sarah Dyke Excerpts
Tuesday 5th March 2024

(2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Andrew Stephenson Portrait Andrew Stephenson
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My hon. Friend will be aware that there have been delays with approvals by the MHRA and NICE. We are keen to ensure that those delays are reduced, and I am delighted to tell the House that significant progress has been made in both organisations. I am happy to work with my hon. Friend and both organisations to ensure that progress continues to be made.

Sarah Dyke Portrait Sarah Dyke (Somerton and Frome) (LD)
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Figures obtained by the British Dental Association project that £8 million of the NHS budget in Somerset is going unspent. Will the Minister explain to my constituent, who is suffering in dental agony, why that is happening?

Andrea Leadsom Portrait Dame Andrea Leadsom
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I encourage the hon. Lady to hold her integrated care board to account. We invest more than £3 billion a year in dentistry, and our dental recovery plan means that significant money is available for NHS dentistry. It is for the integrated care board to commission those units of dental activity, which now offer more money—a minimum of £28 per UDA. I am happy to meet the hon. Lady if she finds she is not getting anywhere with her ICB.