FLUORIDATION OF WATER

Early day motion 300, tabled 5 December 2002 by Jimmy Wray (Labour). Signed by 11 members.

That this House believes that eh claims by the NHS Board that fluoridate is safe cannot be substantiated; further believes that to fluoridate water supplies would mean the mass medication of a population and is a threat to freedom of choice; recognises that fluoridated products are available on the market and that the quantity of fluoride people take into their bodies cannot accurately be measured; that fluoride is attracted to bone structures and teeth, which is why all kinds of people have had dental and skeletal fluorosis, stresses the kidneys and is thought to be connected to arthritis; further believes that it is ethically unacceptable to subject the public to a contaminating substance which is the by-product of a poisonous fertilizer used for killing rats; is concerned that it is very expensive to dispose of and that it would be much better for the chemical companies to get paid for dumping it in the water at one part per million; notes that under the Water Act 1946 it is the duty of an engineer to treat the water and make it wholesome for consumption, but not to treat the people that drink the water, which would be a breach of civil liberties; notes further that it would be a breach of section 130 of the Medicine Act 1968; believes that water is essential for life and its purity should be sacrosanct; and urges the Government to prevent the contamination of water supplies; and recognises that reducing sugar in the diet and thorough teeth-brushing are more effective ways of tackling tooth decay in the population.

Signatures by party: Labour 8, Conservative 2, Plaid Cymru 1.