Written question asked by David Crausby (Labour) on Thursday, 19 June 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 June 2008. It was answered by Ann Keen (Labour) on Thursday, 26 June 2008 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Fluoride: Drinking Water

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will ensure that strategic health authorities are required to consult members of the public before artificial fluoride is added to public drinking water;

Answer: Section 3(1) of ““The Water Fluoridation (Consultation) (England) Regulations 2005””, states that, in order to consult and ascertain opinion on proposals for fluoridation schemes, strategic health authorities (SHAs) should publish details of the proposals in one or more newspapers circulating within the area to which the proposals relate, and in such other media accessible within that area as the SHAs consider appropriate. For the purpose of bringing the proposals to the attention of people who would be affected and bodies with an interest. It is therefore for the SHAs to decide whether to undertake consultations.

Secondary information