17. Immediately before section 27 insert—
26B.—(1) The Council shall prepare and from time to time issue guidance as to the standards of conduct, performance and practice expected of registered dentists.
(2) Such guidance may make different provision in relation to different cases or classes of case.
(3) The Council shall keep such guidance under review and may vary or withdraw it whenever they consider it appropriate to do so.
(4) The Council shall from time to time publish guidance issued under this section.
(5) Before issuing such guidance or varying or withdrawing it, the Council shall consult—
(a)such persons to whom subsection (6) applies as the Council consider appropriate;
(b)the bodies within subsection (8); and
(c)such bodies to which subsection (9) applies as the Council consider appropriate.
(6) This subsection applies to persons who appear to the Council to be representative of one or more of the following—
(a)users of the services of registered dentists;
(b)users of the services of registered dental care professionals;
(c)registered dentists;
(d)registered dental care professionals;
(e)employers of registered dentists; and
(f)employers of registered dental care professionals.
(7) The Council shall exercise their function under subsection (5)(a) so that the persons consulted are, taken together, representative of all the categories of person mentioned in subsection (6)(a) to (f).
(8) The bodies within this subsection are—
(a)Primary Care Trusts in England;
(b)Local Health Boards in Wales;
(c)Health Boards in Scotland; and
(d)Health and Social Services Boards in Northern Ireland.
(9) This subsection applies to bodies which make arrangements, for the provision of dental services, with one or both of the following—
(a)registered dentists,
(b)registered dental care professionals,
but are not within subsection (8).
(10) The Council may charge such fee as they consider reasonable for the provision of a copy of the guidance to any person.”.