MPs make fluoride ruling

Health authorities have won the right to add fluoride to the drinking water of millions of homes after a controversial vote by MPs.

The Commons agreed to give local health chiefs sole responsibility for deciding whether to introduce fluoride to tap water. Water companies have had the power to fluoridate supplies since 1985 but most have not done so for fear of legal action from consumers opposed to it.

The vote now paves the way for a series of local campaigns to secure backing for fluoridation as a means of tackling tooth decay. Supporters of fluoridation, including the British Dental Association, say that it strengthens children's teeth and leads to fewer fillings. But opponents claim it can cause a range of problems, from tooth mottling to cancer, and have threatened to mount a legal challenge on human rights grounds.

The vote means health authorities must consult local communities before fluoridating water. If they win agreement, they will be able to instruct water companies to add one part of fluoride per million parts of water.

Six million people already drink fluoridated water either because it occurs naturally in supplies or because it is already added.

The change, added to the Water Bill, was passed in the Commons last night. A bid to block the fluoridation of water was defeated, on a free vote, by 284 to 181, a majority of 103.

Those against fluoridation included Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, International Development Secretary Hilary Benn and new Tory leader Michael Howard.

Fluoridation is backed by four former health secretaries: Labour's Alan Milburn and Frank Dobson and the Tories' Kenneth Clarke and Lord Fowler. Junior health minister Melanie Johnson said it came down to a balance of judgment but spoke of one study claiming 15 per cent more children would have no tooth decay

if fluoride was added to water. She said it could prevent thousands of children being put at "unnecessary risk" of extractions under general anaesthetic, adding: "The case is clearly made for allowing local communities to decide."

Simon Thomas, Plaid Cymru MP for Ceredigion, said he was opposed to "compulsory medication".

He said: "I hope the declaration will be to say we don't have the evidence, we don't have the public support and we don't have the confidence at this stage, in this Bill, to pass such an important public health measure."