§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now issue a reassurance to water authorities that they have power to implement proposals from area health authorities for the addition of fluoride to water supplies within the concentrations which occur naturally.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe questions raised by water authorities about their powers to fluoridate are being examined at the moment, and I will be in touch with the National Water Council as soon as this examination is completed. As I said in answer to the hon. Member for Sudbury and Woodbridge (Mr. Stainton) on 10th January, I have no reason at this stage to depart from the view, which successive Governments have held, that there is an adequate statutory basis for fluoridation.