§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will arrange, if necessary by legislation, to ensure that no person has to undertake compulsory medication on a general basis where this can be done on an individual or personal basis, namely, the flouridation of water supplies, where this can be individually or personally applied by the person in tablet or other form.
§ Mr. MoyleNo. Experience has shown that the use of fluoride tablets, or other preparations administered on a personal basis, is not a satisfactory community health measure, particularly since the necessary regularity of administration throughout the years of tooth formation is rarely achieved. We therefore prefer to encourage the fluoridation of water supplies, which reproduces the beneficial effect of water supplies containing a satisfactory proportion of fluoride naturally and is a far more effective means of protecting the community against dental decay.