UK - Julian Lewis MP writes to Minister

HOUSE OF COMMONS
LONDON SXTIA OAA
Mrs Anne Milton MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Department of Health
Richmond House 79 Whitehall London SW1A 2NS
Ref: PO00000657542

8 December 2011

Fluoridation: an issue of principle
I am very grateful for your reply recently to my letter to Andrew Lansley
about continuing concern in both the city of Southampton and the town of
Totton, in my constituency, about fluoridation proposals.
The point of contacting Andrew was to confirm something which I had
mentioned to him verbally: namely that Southampton City Council has now
expressed the view that fluoride should not be added to the city's water
supply. This brings it into line with Hampshire County Council. New Forest
District Council and Totton and Eling Town Council as well as the two Labour
MPs and one Conservative representing the areas to be affected. In the case
of the two Labour MPs, they personally support fluoridation, but - rightly,
in my view - they believe it should not happen in the face of the current
level of public opposition to it.
I have no doubt that it is within the legal powers of the outgoing Strategic
Health Authority to force through fluoridation right up to the 59th minute
of the 23rd hour of the day on which it is finally abolished. My point is
that such behaviour would be morally indefensible - and I should like you to
express a view on this aspect, too.
Surely you can see that it would be inappropriate and undemocratic for a
body to impose a measure in its dying days, when it knows perfectly well
that the democratically-elected local authorities, to which its powers are
about to be transferred, are opposed to fluoridation proceeding?
However much you as an individual and the Department of Health as an
organisation may regard fluoridation as a good thing, the issue of principle
here is that it should not be imposed by a non-elected body which is about
to transfer its powers to do this to other, democratically-elected, bodies
which have stated their opposition to the proposal.
The question is, therefore, one of democracy rather than technical
legality - and I look to you to express a view which recognises that it is
not acceptable for the SHA to proceed as it proposes and to override the
positions taken against fluoridation by the elected bodies to which its
powers are presently to be transferred.

Dr Julian Lewis MP