§ Mr. ChurchillTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which countries, having undertaken the fluoridation of their water supplies, have since abandoned it and on what grounds.
§ Mr. FreemanAlthough no specific legislative power was provided, fluoridation was introduced experimentally in the Netherlands in the 1950s. It was discontinued in 1973 when the Amsterdam Supreme Court decreed that there was no legal basis for fluoridation.
In the late 1977 the Highland regional council decided that water fluoridation should not be pursued in its region and the operation in Wick, Scotland, which had provided fluoridated water since 1969, was discontinued in 1979 to bring it into line with the rest of the region.
Water fluoridation was introduced in Chile in 1968 but was discontinued in 1975 partly because of adverse 251W publicity at the time, and partly due to costs. It is understood that fluoridation has since been re-introduced in that country.
Information on the position in other countries is not held.
§ Mr. ChurchillTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies his Department has made of dental fluorosis; what evidence it has received on whether fluoridation of the water supplies has had any harmful effect on those consuming fluoridated water and, in particular, on children; and if he will now reconsider his advice to local and water authorities on the subject.
§ Mr. FreemanThe Department has not carried out any studies on dental fluorosis, but a study by Levine et al; (British Dental Journal 1989; 166/249), confirmed that although significantly more children had higher levels of enamel fluorosis in fluoridated areas the levels were not aesthetically unacceptable.
The Government remain of the opinion that the fluoridation of water constitutes a safe and effective means of reducing tooth decay. We will of course continue to monitor any relevant evidence on the safety and effectiveness of fluoridation and will bring any significant new developments to the attention of health authorities.