§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to encourage fluoridation.
§ Mr. EnnalsAs announced in the consultative document "Priorities for Health and Personal Social Services in England", I have earmarked £0.5 million a year to help area health authorities with the capital costs of fluoridation. This was intended both to encourage authorities to decide on fluoridation—as 85 out of 90 area health authorities have now done—and to give a practical expression of the Government's support for this valuable means of preventing dental decay in the community. I am sending the right hon. Gentleman a copy of a circular which informed health authorities of these arrangements, encouraged them to decide on fluoridation as part of their responsibilities for preventive health and summarised the authoritative report of the Royal College of Physicians which endorsed the safety and efficacy of the measure.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment has encouraged water authorities to comply with requests from health authorities to implement their decisions on fluoridation.
§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out the reasons given by area health authorities for rejecting fluoridation.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe five area health authorities in England, out of a total of 90, which have at present rejected fluoridation were not obliged to give a reason for their decision. In each case the issue was decided by a vote which represented the individual views of a majority of members at that time.