HL Deb 17 October 2000 vol 617 cc82-3WA
Earl Baldwin of Bewdley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In view of the conclusion in Section 12.9 of the report of the systematic scientific review of water fluoridation, published on 6 October by the National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at York, that the quality of research hitherto has been "generally low", whether they will indicate which of the future research needs identified in the report they intend to act upon and within what timescale; or, if there are areas highlighted where they do not intend to instigate research, why not. [HL4105]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

The Department of Health has asked the Medical Research Council to draw upon the expertise available to it and explore how, in the light of the systematic review, any further research could most productively be focused in order to strengthen the knowledge base concerning water fluoridation and its effects on health.

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the light of the reply by Baroness Hayman of 20 April 1999 (WA 158) that "dental fluorosis is a manifestation of systemic toxicity", what action they propose to take following the publication of the report of the systematic scientific review of water fluoridation by the National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination which suggested that, where water is fluoridated at 1 part per million, an estimated 48 per cent of the population suffer from fluorosis. [HL4106]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

Dental fluorosis is a mottling of the teeth, which only in its more extreme forms will leave some people concerned about the appearance of their teeth. Even then the teeth are still endowed with extra resistance to decay and the effect can be removed by routine dental treatment. The presence of dental fluorosis in an individual does not imply that fluoride has had any other adverse effect in that individual. The numerous studies of the effects of fluoride and of fluoridation of water supplies have not demonstrated that drinking water containing fluoride at 1 part per million has any significant effect, beneficial or adverse, other than on teeth. The findings of the Centre for Research and Dissemination systematic review are consistent with this view.