To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many members of the North West Fluoridation Evaluation Group set up by the North West Strategic Health Authority have expressed public opposition to fluoridation of public drinking water in the North West. (282241)

This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated capital cost is of implementing the fluoridation of public drinking water in the North West. (282242)

The capital costs will depend upon the extent of the areas it is proposed to fluoridate and are likely to be spread over a number of years. We understand that the North West strategic health authority has received estimates of between £24 million for fluoridating one area of the region and £105 million for a scheme extending more widely across the region. The figures must be seen in the context of the £2.7 billion spent annually on national health service dentistry.