News from Southampton Labour

Denham calls on ConDems to be clear about fluoride policy

Southampton Itchen MP John Denham has written to Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to ask for clarification of the coalition government’s policy on the potential fluoridation of Southampton’s water supplies.

The letter reads: “I am writing to ask you to clarify urgently your position with regard to the fluoridation of water supplies in Southampton.

As you will know, the SHA proposed the fluoridation of water supplies in Southampton. Whilst in principle I support the health benefits of fluoridation, I urged the SHA not to go ahead with this policy without taking efforts to ensure that there was real public support for the proposal. In my judgement, a full consultation process failed to produce the necessary levels of support, even for a beneficial act of mass medication.

Prior to the election there were a number of statements made by Conservative spokesmen who led people to believe that plans would be dropped if the Conservatives came to power after the election. To date however, all we have seen is a rejection of the idea of a local referendum – a proposal which I had also opposed – but no clarification about whether the SHA is intending to go ahead with its expensive legal action or whether the Government still supports the policy being pursued by the SHA.

I think it is now urgent that you clarify the position and, in particular, if you would require a greater level of public support before this policy is implemented.

This has been a matter of some concern in Southampton for several years now and it would be good to be able to move on. If fluoridation is not to proceed then it is important that attention is focused on other ways of ensuring child oral health.”

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