HL Deb 13 November 2003 vol 654 c1690

50 Clause 61, page 76, line 28, leave out from "until" to end of line 30 and insert "an indemnity with respect to the arrangements has been given by virtue of section 90 below—

  1. (a) to the water undertaker; and
  2. (b) to any licensed water supplier which is entitled to one."

Lord Whitty

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 50. I shall speak also to Commons Amendments Nos. 51 to 79. Most of the amendments deal with the fluoridation issue.

Amendment No. 50 and the remaining amendments ensure that there are no disincentives to water suppliers bidding to supply water in a fluoridated area by providing for them, as well as for strategic health authorities, to be indemnified against liabilities arising from the fluoridation in the water supply that they provide. The remaining amendments in the group deal with various aspects of ensuring that the fluoridation consultation and operation are undertaken in line with what the Government intend. That meets some of the concerns that may lay behind Amendment No. 50A. We do not believe that they would be dealt with by that amendment, which would effectively put the power into the hands of the local authorities rather than the strategic health authority.

At a previous stage, the House supported the option of fluoridation for the strategic health authorities, and the amendments tidy up and protect that situation. With Amendment No. 50A, we would be moving into another direction entirely in relation to the fluoridation issue.

Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 50 to 79.—(Lord Whitty.)