§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in relation to the current fluoridation of the public drinking water in the United Kingdom (a) the names of the companies supplying equipment and maintenance for the operation and (b) the cost per annum to regional health authorities of the installation and maintenance of that equipment.
§ Mr. Denis HowellFluoridation operations are, in England and Wales, a matter for water undertakers. The costs of installing and maintaining the necessary equipment are not available centrally, and could not be obtained without disproportionate expense. It is difficult to be precise about suppliers, as much of the plant is developed from or incorporates standard equipment designed for allied aspects of water treatment. Most of the maintenance is carried out by water undertakers' staff as part of their normal work.
§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, in relation to the fluoride currently being used to treat the public drinking water in the United Kingdom (a) the names of the companies supplying the fluoride, (b) the quantities supplied by each company over the past 12 months and (c) the cost per ton at which it is being purchased by regional health authorities.
§ Mr. Denis HowellPurchase of chemicals for fluoridation is, in England and Wales, a matter for water undertakers. A number of companies are able to supply the two chemicals mainly used for the purpose, but no details are available centrally of the individual transactions of water undertakers. In the last 12 months some 400 tonnes of sodium silicofluoride and 1,200 tonnes of 20 per cent. hydrofluorosilicic acid have been supplied in total. The cost of the former, which contains about 44 per cent. fluoride, is in the range of £175 to £225 773W per tonne, dependent largely on the quality delivered; the latter, containing about 16 per cent. fluoride, costs between £45 and £60 per tonne, according mainly to the distance of the delivery.