§ Mr. Higginsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his Department has given any indemnities to water authorities adding fluoride to water supplies; and, if so, how many such indemnities have been issued and what are their terms.
§ Mr. MoyleSince 1962, on the publication of the report on the successful conclusion of the first five years of the United Kingdom fluoridation studies—Reports on Public Health and Medical Subjects No. 105—my predecessors and I have offered to indemnify water authorities against costs or damages incurred in proceedings alleging that the authority has lacked statutory authority to add fluoride to the water supply or that such addition has caused or might cause injury to health. This indemnity has never had to be invoked by a water authority and872W is still operative. Since it was introduced successive Governments have continued to support fluoridation as a safe and effective means of protecting the community against dental decay.