§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he knows of any country in the European Community which proposes to introduce legislation to make the artificial fluoridation of water supplies legal.
§ Mr. John PattenFor the position regarding fluoridation in EC countries, I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire, South (Mr. Cormack) on 8 March, at column680–81. We have no further details as to whether legislation on fluoridation is pending in any EC countries.
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§ Mr. Gerald Howarthasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will detail by regional health authority the cost of adding fluoride to the public water supply.
§ Mr. John PattenThis information is not available. The capital cost of fluoridation is estimated to vary between 50p and £6 per person. The running costs of fluoridation schemes are estimated on average at around 15p per person annually. Both these costs vary substantially according to the individual configuration of the water supply in a given area.
§ Mr. Gerald Howarthasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy that no new authority will be permitted to add flouride until such time as legislation is enacted specifically authorising the addition.
§ Mr. John PattenDecisions on the implementation of new fluoridation schemes are matters for local health and water authorities and do not require ministerial agreement.