§ Mr. Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action is being taken by the area health authorities concerned to implement their plans for fluoridation in view of the decision by the South West Water Authority to close its fluoridising plant at St. Austell and its refusal to add fluoride to the public water supply anywhere else in its area.
§ Dr. OwenThe Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Area Health Authority, supported by the Cornwall Community Health Council, which represents the local community's interests in the health service, has decided on the general introduction of fluoridation in its area. This is one of the preventive health measures on whose merits this authority has sole local responsibility to decide. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment would expect a regional water authority to give effect as soon as it reasonably could to such a decision, provided this was acceptable to any other health authority whose area would receive supplies of the fluoridated water. I therefore hope it will soon prove possible for the area health authority's decision to be implemented and to ensure that the people of the St. Austell area, where fluoridation began in 1972, continue to receive the benefit to dental and general health of this valuable measure.
§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to amend the Food and Drugs Act to include water supplies under the restrictions applied to the addition of fluoride.
§ Dr. OwenNo. The fluoride concentration of a fluoridated water supply is carefully monitored and is maintained at the recommended level, within narrow limits of tolerance.
§ Mr. Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action is being taken to warn the public and doctors about the dangers of increased concentrations of chemicals including fluoride in drinking water caused by the drought in some parts of the country.
§ Dr. OwenI have assured the hon. Member in my reply to him on 30th July —[Vol. 916, c.495–6]—that the drought 839W will not cause an increased concentration of fluoride in a fluoridated water supply. Water is carefully monitored, and in all but exceptional circumstances the composition of drinking water is maintained within close limits. The Chief Medical Officer is considering whether there is a need to issue medical advice to guard against any dangers that might arise in exceptional circumstances.
§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if it is his policy to encourage local authorities to add medicines to the public water supplies.
§ Dr. OwenThe decision to introduce fluoridation in a particular area rests solely with the area health authority, as part of its statutory responsibility for preventive health. The purpose of fluoridation is not to administer a specific dose of a medicine but merely to adjust to the optimum of one part per million the fluoride content of those water supplies which are deficient in it naturally.
My Department has recently issued a circular again commending this safe and effective measure to those area health authorities which have not yet decided in favour, and inviting them, in the light of the report published by the Royal College of Physicians earlier this year, to give urgent consideration to introducing it. I am sending a copy to the hon. Member.