Contrary to the impression given by Councillor Simon Williams (Letters, September 12), I am firmly opposed to the compulsory addition of fluoride to public water supplies, as he would know if he had read my speech in the second reading of the Water Bill, to which he refers in his letter.

It is true that I voted to allow the Bill a second reading but that is because it contains many measures to improve the environment, such as tighter abstraction licences and a duty upon Government to conserve water (the latter inserted by a successful Lib Dem amendment in the Lords).

Fluoride is only a tiny part of a much larger Bill, the majority of which is welcome.

Leading for the Lib Dems, I will be attempting to have the fluoride proposal rejected when the particular clause relating to it is discussed, while protecting those elements of the Bill which I suspect Coun Williams would want to see.

Mine is a rather more sophisticated and potentially productive course of action than the nuclear approach he advocates.

-Norman Baker MP (Lewes), Lib Dem Shadow Environment Secretary