§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in theOfficial Reporta list of official publications giving information to the public on fluoridation, dental effects and any hazards to health made generally available by his Department, the Medical Research Council and the World Health Organisation.
§ Mr. Moyle:A list of answers to questions commonly asked about the safety and efficacy of fluoridation is published jointly by the British Dental Association, the Fluoridation Society and the Health Education Council—the body responsible nationally for health education. This has been made available to the public, and to many individuals and bodies, including Members of Parliament and health authorities.
Last October, the Health Education Council published a policy document on the scientific basis of dental health education, which received publicity in the national press and has been widely requested by the public. This commends fluoridation as the single most effective, safe and efficient way of reducing dental caries and suggests that all citizens should call for its implementation at the earliest possible time.
I understand that the Medical Research Council—while responsible for scientific publications—does not normally publish material of the kind mentioned in the Question.
The World Health Organisation is similarly concerned largely with scientific publications, but on the occasion of its twenty- 774W fifth anniversary commended fluoridation as the most effective, safe and economical measure for the prevention of tooth decay. From time-to-time information about fluoridation is published in "World Health" and the "WHO Chronicle".