§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for the Environment which water authorities have expressed their wish that water supplies should be fluoridated; which 63W have opposed this measure; and if he will list both those which have and those who have not in the Official Report.
§ Mr. Denis HowellIt is for area health authorities, not water authorities, to determine local policy on fluoridation. Water authorities' primary concern is with questions of technical feasibility. No central records are kept of the decisions of water authorities on individual requests from area health authorities to implement local schemes, but a list of water authorities operating fluoridation schemes was given in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, South (Mr. Pavitt) on 6th February.—[Vol. 943, c. 405–6.]
§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will allow those water authorities which wish to introduce fluoridation in their supplies, with the consent of the local area health authorities, to do so immediately.
§ Mr. Denis HowellWater authorities do not need my right hon. Friend's permission to respond to requests from area health authorities to add fluoride to water supplies.