§ Mr. Cledwyn Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what repre- 460W sentations he has received about the fluoridation of water supplies in Anglesey; whether his advice has been sought by the Gwynedd Area Health Authority; and if he will make a statement including his reply to the authority.
§ Mr. John MorrisIn the last 12 months I have received direct representations from one person only. Gwynedd Area Health Authority has, however sought my advice following representations to it by Anglesey Borough Council.
In reply I said that while I was satisfied on the evidence that controlled fluoridation of the water suply was both safe and beneficial to dental health I recognised that the existence within the community of a body of opinion opposed to receiving fluoridated water posed difficult problems of judgment and conscience. I informed the authority that my right hon. Friends and myself had put in hand a consultation document on preventive health measures, including preventive dentistry, a topic highly relevant to the question of the future of fluoridation of water supplies. I referred also to the study being carried out by the Royal College of Physicians. Finally I suggested that it might be best to leave undisturbed the long-standing arrangements in Anglesey until a decision could he taken in the light of the national debate which must follow the publication of the consultation document and the views of the Royal College.
I understand that the authority shares my view.