§ Mr. EtheringtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the original research projects his Department has (i) wholly and (ii) part funded into the long-term health effects of ingesting(a) fluoride, (b) lead, (c) chloride, (d) phosphate and (e) sulphate in areas of fluoridated water supplies. [6795]
§ Mr. MaloneInitial studies of water fluoridation were undertaken on behalf of Government Departments, including the Department of Health and Social Security and its predecessor, the Ministry of Health. DHSS also part funded studies of fluoride and cancer and fluoride and mutagenicity. The Department has not funded any studies of the long-term health effects of lead, chloride, phosphate and sulphate in relation to fluoridation of water supplies.