§ Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many areas of England and Wales now have fluoridation of their water supplies; what approximate percentage this is of the total population; and how many people have had a direct say or vote as to whether or not such medication should take place.
§ Mr. MoyleI have been asked to reply.
In England, the areas of 23 area Health authorities, the bodies which now have statutory responsibility for preventive health are supplied with fluorated water for all or some of their inhabitants, representing about 9 per cent. of the total population. In all these cases the decisions to seek the introduction of fluoridation were taken by the local health authorities which were responsible for preventive health before reorganisation of the National Health Service, i.e., the former county and county borough councils.