I REPLY to P Osbourne's criticism of my long letter.

On what grounds does he/she base the assertion that the anti-fluoride pressure groups namely N.P.W.A. and N/W Councils Against Fluoridation are powerful? The N.P.W.A. consists of not more than a few thousand, being in the main intelligent, informed and concerned, members of the general public. In contrast the pro-fluoride group are indeed very powerful, having also access to unlimited vast sums of money. They consist of B.M.A., B.D.A., A.H.As., The British Fluoridation Society, The Campaign For Equality In Health and other bodies. On numbers of members alone these form a formidable opposition. In Parliament we also have got the two Government Health Ministers, Tessa Jowell and Frank Dobson, plus Dr Peter Brand the Lib/Dem Health Spokesman.

I can assure P Osbourne that I am indeed local, having been born and lived all my life in Bolton. I also wish to inform him/her that I have got perfect teeth.

Those pushing for compulsory fluoridation have lost the battle in winning the minds of the public. Therefore they now are concentrating their efforts in Westminster.

He/she has also misconstrued the content of my letter, as I did NOT say that Brian Iddon, nor any other MP has canvassed opinions on this issue.

Likewise he/she is failing to comprehend my concerns over fluoridation. Unlike those who oppose us, we have no vested interests at stake.

India has fluoride naturally occurring and Professor Susheela is involved in research into its effects on the human body tissues. Something this country has neglected to do. When Tessa Jowell, said that they, like P Osbourne, "Had not observed any ill effects."

Dr Susheela replied: "If you do not look for them, then how do you expect to find them."

I defend the rights of P Osbourne and others to express their views on fluoridation. Like me they are entitled to their opinion. If they wish to ingest a cumulative poison, then that is their own choice to do so.

Alex Hasting (alias Vesta)

Craven Place, Montserrat, Bolton

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