418.Section 88G of the 1991 Act places a duty on the Secretary of State to implement a fluoridation proposal by entering into arrangements with a water undertaker.
419.The Act ensures that the Secretary of State has initially satisfied himself that a scheme is operable and efficient (see section 88C of the 1991 Act). In addition, subsection (2) of section 88G of the 1991 Act requires that the Secretary of State be satisfied that the requirements imposed by sections 88B to 88F of the 1991 Act have been met. This does not require the Secretary of State to consider the adequacy of any steps taken for the purposes of complying with any requirement to consult or to ascertain opinion.