§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of water authorities add fluoride to their water where the natural fluoride content is insufficient; and if he will take steps to encourage the remainded to take similar action to prevent dental decay.
§ Mr. CrossmanIn England 10 water undertakings—or about 5 per cent.—are adding fluoride to the whole or part of their water supplies. About 2¼ million people are receiving fluoridated water. Other water undertakings will be introducing fluoridation schemes shortly or are preparing schemes.
There is no evidence of a general unwillingness on the part of water undertakings to fluoridate when asked to do so by the local health authorities of the areas they supply. I have asked all authorities which have not yet decided in favour of fluoridation to reconsider the matter in the light of the findings in the recently published report on 11 years of fluoridation in the United Kingdom. To assist them in this I have sent, for each council member, a copy of a leaflet summarising the report; and the Health Education Council, which regards education about fluoridation as one of its main tasks, has also prepared material.