§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the relative benefits to dental health of(a) calcium fluoride and (b) sodium fluoride. [147258]
§ Mr. DenhamThe use of sodium salts to deliver fluoride to benefit dental health is more appropriate than the use of calcium salts.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the report into the safety and efficacy of fluoride in drinking water carried out by the National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York; and what plans he has to establish a public inquiry into the issue. [147259]
§ Mr. DenhamWe accept the findings of the York report that more high-quality research is required and have asked the Medical Research Council to consider how the research base may be strengthened. We do not consider that a public inquiry would be appropriate.