§ 37. Captain Pilkingtonasked the Minister of Health what evidence he has that a fluorine content in drinking water is beneficial to teeth; and what steps he proposes to take so that all drinking water is so treated.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithSurveys carried out over a number of years in this country, the United States of America and elsewhere, show that there is markedly less dental decay in areas where the water contains adequate quantities of fluorine; the decision whether or not to fluoridate the public water supplies rests, in the first place, with the water authorities concerned.
§ Captain PilkingtonWould my hon. Friend consider whether or not her Ministry might give advice to local authorities in this matter if fluorine has been so beneficial?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithMy hon. and gallant Friend will be aware that experiments are being carried out in Andover and Watford in England, in Anglesey in Wales, and in Kilmarnock in Scotland in order that we may obtain the results of full tests.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopWill the hon. Lady do what she can to speed up these experiments? There is a great deal of interest in this work and the possibilities are very great.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithWe are as anxious as anyone to see the tests carried through, but the hon. Member will be aware of the formalities which will have to be gone through with local authorities.