§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the daily requirement of fluoride in milligrams per kilogram of weight of the human body to establish good health; and what action is taken to ensure that the compulsory adding of fluoride to the public water supplies does not exceed this dosage.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergNo official recommended total daily intake of fluoride has been defined since the small, but variable fluoride content of an individual's solid diet cannot be readily assessed or controlled. The evidence which is available on the effect of fluoride intake is in terms of its effect in water supplies, which is a major determinant of total intake, or of supplementary dosages for children. One part per million is recommended as giving the optimal dental benefit and I am advised that, at that level, taking into account the total amount ingested from the diet, there is no sound evidence of danger to health. Careful regular checks of fluoride levels are undertaken by the water authorities operating fluoridation systems, the results of which are monitored by this Department and the Department of the Environment.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will arrange for an independent public inquiry to be held into the advisability or otherwise of the compulsory fluoridation of the public water supplies and the voluntary use of fluoride tablets by those who wish to have their water fluoridated.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergNo. The Government are satisfied of e safety and efficiancy of fluoridation of water supplies, which has been demonstrated by numerous soundly based scientific studies.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take action to stop the compulsory medication of people by the fluoridation of public water supplies and to enable those who are against such medication to have water supplies without fluoridation.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe Government's policy is that the decision to seek to introduce the fluoridation of water supplies is for health authorities locally. Water110W authorities are encouraged to comply with health authorities' requests to fluoridate. The Government have no plans for legislation to compel authorities to introduce fluoridation but continue to believe that progress should be made with the consent of those concerned locally.