§ Mr. BeardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which water companies in the United Kingdom add fluoride to water; what notification his Department has received of the reasons why other companies have refused to add fluoride; and what steps are being taken to overcome obstacles to fluoridation. [118006]
§ Yvette CooperFluoridated water is currently provided by Anglian Water Services Ltd., Northumbrian Water Ltd., North West Water Ltd., Severn Trent Water Ltd. and South Staffordshire Water plc. No water company has acceded to a request from a health authority to fluoridate its water supply since 1985. We understand that the water companies are reluctant to disregard the views of a minority of people opposed to water fluoridation. The National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York is undertaking a review into fluoride and health. If it finds that there are10W significant benefits and no risks we will consider if water companies can be put under an obligation to fluoridate where there is strong local support for doing so.