§ 32. Mr. Brooksasked the Minister of Health what steps he will take to ensure that young children are not denied the benefits which derive from fluoridation.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonThe primary responsibility for securing the benefits of fluoridation for young children and others rests with the local health authorities, but I am doing all I can to encourage and help them.
§ Mr. BrooksDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that, since many local authorities have deep-seated and, in their view, well-founded objections to the principle of fluoridation of public water supplies, it is time that the Ministry took another look at this vexed question? In particular, can he give an assurance that alternative methods will be explored to see that young children are not denied a very valuable preventive against dental caries?
§ Mr. RobinsonThese matters have been, and are still being, considered but on present advice I am satisfied there is no other method which is as safe and effective as the fluoridation of water.
§ Mr. RankinWill my right hon. Friend assure the House that he will use no method to impose on local authorities this system of poisoning water against which so many of them have declared their objection?
§ Mr. RobinsonI am happy to say that many more have declared their support.