Freedom of Information Team
Department of Health and Social Care
39 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0EU
www.gov.uk/dhsc
Ms Joy Warren
By email to:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
22 December 2022
Dear Ms Warren,
Freedom of Information Request Reference FOI-1427529
Thank you for your request dated 25 November to the Department of Health and Social
Care (DHSC), a copy of which can be found in the accompanying annex.
Your request has been handled under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Further to our response of 24 November to your previous request (our ref: FOI-1424882),
a copy of which is enclosed with this reply, I can confirm that the Department holds
information relevant to your request.
However, information is being withheld under Section 41 of the FOIA, under which a public
authority is not obliged to disclose information which was provided to the public authority in
confidence.
DHSC also considers that this information is exempt under Section 43 of the FOIA, which
exempts from the general duty to release information that would, or would be likely to,
prejudice the commercial interests of any entity, including the public authority holding the
information.
Section 43 is a qualified exemption and, as such, we are required to assess the public
interest in withholding this information against that of its release.
However, we also take into account the fact that this information is commercially sensitive.
We consider that disclosing this information would not be in the public interest as it could
prejudice future commercial relations with suppliers, and that withholding this information
will protect future contractual negotiations and relationships. Therefore, we consider that
the balance of interest favours withholding this information.
If you are not satisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to appeal by
asking for an internal review. This should be sent to
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
or to the address at the top of this letter and be submitted within two months of the date of
this letter. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communication.
If you are not content with the outcome of your internal review, you may complain directly
to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Generally, the ICO cannot make a
decision unless you have already appealed our original response and received our internal
review decision. You should raise your concerns with the ICO within three months of your
last meaningful contact with us.
Guidance on contacting the ICO can be found a
t https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us and
information about making a complaint can be found a
t https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint. Yours sincerely,
Freedom of Information Team
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
Annex
From: Joy Warren <xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Sent: 25 November 2022 16:15
To: FreedomofInformation <xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request - Water Fluoridation: Risk Analysis, Cost
Analysis, Health Analysis
Dear Department of Health and Social Care,
Regarding the Cost Analysis for the North East Water Fluoridation Proposal, according to
Lord Markham in the House of Lords, funding has been secured: "We want more of the
country to benefit from water fluoridation, and many noble Lords may be aware that
yesterday we announced, subject to the outcome of this debate and future consultations,
that funding has been secured to begin expansion across the north-east into
Northumberland, County Durham, Sunderland, South Tyneside and Teesside, including
Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton-on-Tees, Darlington and Middlesbrough."
(https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhansard.parliament
.uk%2FLords%2F2022-10-25%2Fdebates%2F601B02C5-37AF-4C6F-BB6C-
C2216088A575%2Fdetails&data=05%7C01%7Cdhmail%40dhsc.gov.uk%7C5d3fd60
ddc084cd5df1308dacf03ea67%7C61278c3091a84c318c1fef4de8973a1c%7C1%7C0%7C
638049912960174437%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQI
joiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=C6
8Lafj2MxZURMrMUX%2Bbvywexaud0%2Fzjc1FjyhLIQmU%3D&reserved=0) The amount of funding granted by HM Treasury must have been justified following the
completion of a costing exercise. Therefore, a cost analysis must exist. Please let me see
a copy of the cost analysis for the North East of England Water Fluoridation proposal as
requested in my original FoI request.
Yours faithfully,
Joy Warren
