Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to protect the long-term financial future of dental practices throughout the UK.

The Government recognises the important role all dental practices in the UK play to maintain and improve the oral health of the population and is taking many steps to protect their long-term financial future during the Covid-19 outbreak.

NHS England has put out clear guidance that dentists will be fully remunerated for the NHS work they would have otherwise undertaken during the outbreak, subject to some basic requirements. The Devolved Administrations have devolved responsibilities for this in their own territories.

As regards non-NHS activity, the Government has set out a range of UK-wide measures which will support private income for dentists. If they meet the criteria, private dentists who are self-employed could be eligible for the Self-employment Income Support Scheme and those who are employees and receive a salary through a PAYE scheme could be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. All employed staff in dental practices, including support staff, could also be eligible for this scheme. In addition, private dentists can access the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, if they can channel their activity through a business account.