§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 31 January 2001,Official Report, column 217W, on fluoride, if he will list the research upon which he bases his conclusion; what research he has evaluated which suggests that calcium fluoride is better for dental health than sodium fluoride; if he keeps this situation under constant review; how much money his Department has spent on research into the impact on dental health of (a) calcium fluoride and (b) sodium fluoride in each of the last 30 years; and if he will make a statement. [149762]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 9 February 2001]: Sodium salts are generally used in fluoridation schemes because they are more soluble than calcium salts. In the 1960s the Government undertook three research studies of fluoridation schemes using sodium salts. The cost of the studies is not now available. We have asked the Medical Research Council how, in the light of the recently conducted systematic review of water fluoridation conducted by the University of York, the knowledge base concerning water fluoridation and its effects on health could be strengthened.