asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he intends to take to safeguard those consumers of water who do not wish to ingest fluoride against their will and judgment as to its medical effects.

Fluoride is naturally present, at various levels, in nearly all the drinking water in this country. Even if it were technically possible to supply fluoride-free water there would be no justification for the heavy expenditure which would be needed. Artificial fluoridation consists only of adjusting the natural fluoride level to that recommended by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services as most beneficial to dental health.