Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of expanding the number of mutual recognition schemes in dentistry qualifications.

The General Dental Council (GDC) is the independent regulator of dentists and dental care professionals practising in the United Kingdom. In March 2023, we introduced legislation that gives the GDC greater flexibility to expand the registration routes for international applicants and improve its international registration processes. This includes giving the GDC the ability to recognise overseas diplomas as demonstrating the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience for registration in the UK.