Written question asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative) on Monday, 24 March 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 7 April 2025. It was answered by Baroness Merron (Labour) on Tuesday, 1 April 2025 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Water Supply: Fluoride

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have undertaken an impact assessment of adding fluoride to the water supply which takes account of (1) the financial cost, and (2) the possible health risks.

Answer: An impact assessment was completed as part of the proposals to expand the existing water fluoridation scheme in the North East of England, to a further 1.6 million people. This sets out a net present social value of the proposal of £201 million over 40 years, and accounts for estimated benefits through dental health care cost savings, productivity gains, and quality of life benefits to individuals. My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has a duty to monitor the effects of water fluoridation schemes on health, and to publish reports at intervals no greater than four years. The findings of monitoring reports published in 2014, 2018, and 2022 are consistent that water fluoridation, at levels recommended in the United Kingdom, is a safe and effective public health measure to reduce dental caries.

Secondary information