Explanatory note

These Regulations supersede Part III of the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Regulations 1973 (the remainder of which have been superseded by the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Regulations 1992 (S.I. 1992/661).

These Regulations make provision for the continued existence of the Dental Practice Board (“the Board”) (regulation 3), which is differently constituted so as to comprise eight members: namely the chairman, vice-chairman and three other members (all five of whom must be dentists), together with two members who are not dentists, and the person who is the chief officer of the Board (regulation 4).

In addition the Regulations provide for the appointment of non-officer members (defined in regulation 2(1)) of the Board (regulation 5); for the vice-chairman to act as chairman where there is no chairman (regulation 6); for the tenure of office of members (regulation 7); for the termination of the tenure of office of non-officer members (regulation 8); for the re-appointment of non-officer members (regulation 9); for the rules as to the meetings and proceedings of the Board (regulation 10 and the Schedule); for the disability of members in such proceedings on account of their pecuniary interest (regulation 11); for the remuneration and conditions of service of officers of the Board (regulation 12); and for the Board to provide an annual report, and information relating to the exercise of its functions, to the Secretary of State (regulation 13).

Before making the provision contained in regulation 12 the Secretary of State consulted bodies recognised by him as representing officers of the Board.