asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give an assurance that it is his policy that those who suffer from dental decay are to be treated as separate and individual patients and not by the administration of sodium fluoride to the entire community.

Adjustment of the natural fluoride content of water to the recommended level of 1 part per million is a safe and effective way of reducing the incidence of dental decay and I strongly support it. Treatment is a different matter and my policy there is to ensure that individuals who suffer from dental decay should be able to obtain under the National Health Service whatever dental treatment may be necessary to restore dental health.

Could my right hon. Friend tell me the purpose of compelling those who have no teeth and those who have dentures to drink fluoridated water in order to save the teeth of the younger generation, who can be dealt with in other ways?

Contrary to what my hon. Friend has said, I feel that the two minorities he has mentioned should suffer a little—if it is suffering—for the sake of the overwhelming majority and enable us all to have the privilege of those who live in The Hartlepools and Colchester where the level in the drinking water is at the correct amount.

Since conscientious objection to vaccination has been respected, should individuals be subjected unwillingly to this form of compulsory medication?

This is an argument one hears, but there is no medication whatever in ensuring that the water supply of the rest of the country is of the same mixture as in The Hartlepools and Colchester. I cannot believe this to be medication, as it would save hundreds of thousands of cases of dental decay. I hope that hon. Gentlemen will assist me in that cause.

Would my right hon. Friend make it clear to hon. Members with no teeth that they are already drinking fluoride in their water?

Hon. Members:

Shame.

This is a question simply of adding a little more where water is deficient in fluoride. Would the Minister also make it clear that many other things are already being added to their water which they do not know about?

I do not want to go into this matter in detail, but I accept what my hon. Friend says. It is only a matter of getting exactly the right amount of fluoride, neither too much nor too little.

Since there is a good deal of controversy and feeling about this matter, can the Secretary of State give an assurance to the House that he still intends to leave the decision to local authorities?

We have now published a report which contains an overwhelming case for fluoridation. I said that I hoped local authorities would take action, but it is disconcerting to see how a very small group can deliberately spread misinformation and lies to deter an important social reform.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.