HC Deb 27 June 1991 vol 193 cc558-9W
Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when a decision will be made on the fluoridation of the water supply to Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

Mr. Dorrell

North West Water commissioned a study into the design and costings for a standard fluoridation plant. The report is expected by the end of September 1991. The local health authorities believe that North West Water will then have all the technical information it requires to decide whether it is technically able to accede to the health authorities' requests to supply fluoridated water to the region.

Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which district health authorities have made applications to their local water authorities for fluoridation of the water supply in each year since 1985.

Mr. Dorrell

The following district health authorities asked water undertakers to supply fluoridated water:

  • Stockport
  • Bolton
  • Wigan
    • 559
  • Oldham
  • Tameside and Glossop
  • Rochdale
  • Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble
  • Salford
  • Trafford
  • Bury
  • Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale
  • Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde
  • Lancaster
  • Chorley and South Ribble
  • Preston
  • North Manchester
  • Central Manchester
  • South Manchester
  • North Staffordshire
  • Macclesfield
  • South Cumbria
  • East Cumbria

All the requests were made in 1988.

Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which water authorities have fluoridated their water supply in each year since 1985.

Mr. Dorrell

The following water authorities have fluoridated water supplies since 1985:

  • Anglian Water Services Limited
  • North West Water Limited
  • Northumbrian Water Limited
  • Severn Trent Water Limited
  • Thames Water Utilities Limited
  • Colne Valley Water Company
  • East Worcestershire Water Company
  • Newcastle and Gateshead Water Company
  • South Staffordshire Water Company

Yorkshire Water which was supplying fluoridated water in 1985 stopped doing so with effect from 31 October 1989.

Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the annual charge for fluoridation of the water supply charged by each water authority.

Mr. Dorrell

This is a matter for local negotiation and information is not held centrally.