HC Deb 15 July 2003 vol 409 cc224-5W
Mr. Crausby

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to hold a referendum before new schemes for fluoridation of the public water supply are implemented. [124192]

Miss Melanie Johnson

Amendments to the Water Bill agreed on 9 July in the Other Place provide for regulations to be made on the local consultations that strategic health authorities will be required to undertake before making any arrangements with a water undertaker to have their water fluoridated. In drafting the regulations we shall carefully consider the range of options available for assessing public opinion. This House will debate the Water Bill in due course.