§ Mr. ShersbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the water supply in Northern Ireland is now fluoridated artifically; and what is his policy for ensuring the optimum level of fluoridation in the interests of securing better dental health.
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§ Mr. HanleyJust under 1 per cent. of the population live in areas in which fluoride is added to the public water supply. Two major fluoridation schemes are under consideration by health and social services boards which are responsible for deciding if the water authority should be asked to increase local fluoride levels. These would cover some 43 per cent. of the population. Where fluoride is added to water supplies, the Water (Fluoridation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 requires that, as far as is reasonably practicable, the concentration of fluoride in the water supplied to customers shall be maintained at 1 mg per litre which is the optimum level for reducing dental caries.