Written question asked by Charlotte Atkins (Labour) on Tuesday, 25 July 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 11 September 2006. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Wednesday, 13 September 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Water Act

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the delay in implementing outstanding sections of the Water Act 2003 on the work of strategic health authorities in undertaking formal consultations on water fluoridation;

Answer: We commenced sections 58(5), (6) and (8) of the Water Act 2003 in February 2005 to enable regulations to be made on the consultations that strategic health authorities (SHAs) will have to undertake before requiring a water undertaker to fluoridate their water and the indemnities available to water undertakers who fluoridate a water supply. We are in contact with SHAs so that we may commence the remaining provisions within section 58 when required.

Secondary information