asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what financial assistance has been given from central Government funds for the capital costs of the installation of fluoridation plants following the passage of the Water (Fluoridation) Act 1985;(2) what additional public expenditure has arisen from the Water (Fluoridation) Act 1985.
There has been no additional public expenditure arising from the passage of the Water (Fluoridation) Act 1985. The Department has continued to provide some financial assistance to health authorities with the capital costs of fluoridation schemes that were agreed prior to 1985, as it has done since 1975. In the financial year 1985–86 this assistance amounted to £285,000 and to £262,000 in the current financial year.