§ Lord Colwynasked Her Majesty's Government:
In view of their statement in the White Paper, Saving Lives—Our Healthier Nation that "the present 114WA legislation on fluoridation is not working", what effect their decision to transfer the requirement to undertake public consultation on fluoridation from health authorities to local authorities will have. [HL3705]
§ Baroness HaymanWe wish the local authority, as the locally elected representative body, to be involved in the assessment of public opinion, but the main change required to remedy the flaw in the present legislation is for the water companies to be put under a statutory obligation to accede to requests to fluoridate where there is strong local support for doing so. As the White Paper indicated, we will introduce amending legislation to this effect provided the scientific review we have commissioned confirms that there are benefits to dental health and no significant risks.