Consultation with Local Authorities

Part of Orders of the Day — Water (Fluoridation) Bill – in the House of Commons at 11:30 pm on 19 February 1985.

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Photo of Mr Matthew Parris Mr Matthew Parris , West Derbyshire 11:30, 19 February 1985

Yes. That is a problem. It is a defect which detracts from the completely democratic nature of what I am proposing, but it might be said that the theory of local government representation is somewhat flawed because those who pay for local government are a minority of those who vote for it. These defects are inherent in any system in which we ask people what they want when they are not necessarily those who are paying for the service.

I would not go to the last ditch in proposing my own way of consulting. I agree with many hon. Members from both sides that, given the will, there is a practical way of consulting people about whether they want their water to be fluoridated.