§ Captain Kerbyasked the Minister of Health, in view of the fact that fluoridation of public water supply helps to prevent dental caries if administered during embryonic and early post-natal life, by hardening certain enamel tissues, what research has been undertaken into the possibility that fluoridation causes pathological hardening of bony tissues other than teeth in later life.
§ Mr. BraineThe research undertaken is reviewed in Appendix 8 of the Report on The Conduct of the Fluoridation Studies in the United Kingdom and the Results Achieved after Five Years (Reports on Public Health and Medical Subjects No. 105) and in other standard works on the subject. No harm to health has been found from the fluoridation of water supplies at one part per million.
§ Mr. K. Robinsonasked the Minister of Health how many local health authorities have now reached a decision on fluoridation of water supplies; how many have decided to proceed; how many have rejected fluoridation; and if he will give similar figures for water authorities.
§ Mr. BarberThirty-three local health authorities in England and Wales have 161W informed me that they have decided to approach the water undertakers. Information on the other parts of the Question is not centrally collected, but I understand that more than 60 local health authorities have passed resolutions in favour of fluoridation and under 30 against.