Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make representations to General Dental Council to request a review of the passporting of dental qualifications of people who arrive in the UK as trained dentists.

We have no plans to make such representations. As an independent regulator, the General Dental Council (GDC) assesses the skills, knowledge and experience of healthcare professionals who have qualified outside of the United Kingdom, to ensure that UK standards of practice are met.

The Department recently consulted on legislative changes which will provide the GDC with greater flexibility to establish alternative routes to registration for international applicants. Officials are currently analysing the responses received to the consultation and we plan to publish the Government’s response later this year.