My Lords, I start by thanking the Minister for bringing these regulations forward today. They very much flow from the measures supported in the Health and Care Act, and we are very glad to support them.
I will first refer to the instrument dealing with fluoridation. My noble friend Lord Hunt and the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, rightly made the point that this is not the time to reopen the whole matter as to whether fluoridation is a good thing. I feel that that has been exhausted in the debate. I am familiar with the concerns that the noble Lord, Lord Reay, has previously put before the House and which he referred to today. However, every independent review of fluoridation has confirmed its safety. As the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, and my noble friend Lord Hunt said, the UK Chief Medical Officers back this measure, and I do not believe that they do so lightly. I hope that the noble Lord, Lord Reay, may come round to the way of thinking that explains why this measure is important in the Act and why we need the regulation today.
I have a few questions for the Minister. Regarding consultation, the necessity of taking responsibilities away from local authorities and to the Secretary of State reflects reality, because there are real difficulties when boundaries are different, yet fluoridation needs to be brought in. Also, it is important to take communities with us in this process, and the consultation measures in this regulation provide that opportunity.
Can the Minister comment on plans to extend fluoridation nationwide? What is the plan—the vision— bearing in mind that only 10% of people have fluoride in their water at present? What timeline might we be talking about? Do the Government have a target for the percentage of the UK that will benefit from fluoridation at the end of the process? I also wonder how the Government will spread awareness of the evidence of the benefits of fluoridation and gain buy-in for them, as that is extremely important.
In the course of evidence sessions in relation to the Health and Care Act we heard from experts that many families do not habitually drink water, and that many people who suffer tooth decay are now too far down the line to stave off tooth loss. It would be helpful to hear whether the department has any plans for a wraparound strategy on dental health generally.
I note from the Explanatory Memorandum that a separate impact assessment, beyond that of the Health and Care Act, has not been done for this regulation. Can the Minister comment on that? It is important to have an analysis of how the movement of powers in respect of consultation beyond local authority boundaries will play out.
5.15 pm
Turning now to the Health and Care Act regulations, which concern minor enabling amendments and are therefore uncontroversial, I particularly reference those regarding the implementation of the ban on virginity testing and hymenoplasty, and those regarding autism training. I endorse the comments of the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton: these are excellent examples of your Lordships’ House working together to make positive change. I also associate myself with her thanks to the Government and the Minister’s predecessor for seeing that this was absolutely the right thing to do. At the time of the debate in the Chamber, I was very glad to support those amendments.
Statutory guidance on training for learning disabilities and autism has to be of the highest standard, wherever the guidance comes from. The regulation before us reminds us of the enormity of the task that sits with government, but it will ensure that those with autism will be able to access the support and services they need at the right standard.
Virginity testing and hymenoplasty are serious matters of abuse. They are not medical practices, they do not have medical benefits and they are both violations of the human rights of women and girls. Those who carry out these abusive practices in any part of our country should be, and now will be, regarded as criminals. I completely endorse the provision that there should be no right to foster a child. It is important, as the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, said, to draw a clear definition here of who would be referred to by the regulation, because we want to ensure that those who are criminal in this regard cannot foster a child, because there is no fitness to foster a child.
With those comments, I welcome the regulations and thank the Minister.