Written question asked by Mike Penning (Conservative) on Monday, 9 June 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 11 June 2008. It was answered by Ann Keen (Labour) on Tuesday, 17 June 2008 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Fluoride: Drinking Water

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health from what source the £42 million funding to be provided by central Government for the capital costs of fluoridation will be drawn.

Answer: Up to £43 million will be available from centrally managed national health service capital funds over the three years 2008-09 to 2010-11 to assist strategic health authorities (SHAs) with the capital cost of establishing new fluoridation schemes which have been supported by local communities, or refurbishing plant to maintain existing fluoridation schemes. Funding for public consultations needs to be agreed locally between the responsible SHA and participating primary care trusts, drawing upon their local NHS budgets. No public consultation on any new fluoridation scheme has yet been conducted. The following bids have been received so far for support with the cost of upgrading and refurbishment of the plant used in existing fluoridation schemes; West Midlands SHA has requested £1.35 million, East Midlands SHA £1.3 million, and North West SHA £250,000.

Secondary information