§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, further to his reply of 1 July, Official Report, c. 385, he will break down the figure of £65,000 provided to the Fluoridation Society on an annual basis.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeAnnual grants made to the Fluoridation Society since 1974 under Section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 are as follows:
£ 1974–75 4,500 1975–76 4,500 1976–77 5,500 1977–78 5,500 1978–79 5,500 1979–80 5,500 1980–81 11,000 1981–82 14,000 1982–83 15,000 These allocations total £71,000 not £65,500 as indicated in my hon. Friend's reply of 1 July.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the Official Report the text of the letter dated 9 July, signed by Miss V. M. Langrish of his Department to a member of the National Anti-Fluoridation Campaign, or quote the extract which refers to the Department's belief that fluoridation is a safe and effective method of preventing tooth decay but that it is not pressing health authorities to introduce the measure.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergFollowing is an extract from the letter in question
Although the Government believes fluoridation to be a safe and effective method for preventing dental decay, whilst clear differences of view exist, particularly on the question of freedom of choice as mentioned in your letter, they are not pressing health authorities to introduce the measure. Indeed that is why the Government prefers to leave the matter to health authorities locally and certainly has no plans to introduce legislation which would make fluoridation compulsory.