MP Andy Burnham criticised "nonsense scare stories" about fluoridation of water supplies as MPs debated the issue at the Second Reading of the Water Bill in the Commons.

The Leigh MP said a new poll by the British Fluoridation Society showed solid public support for the move and protested that a small minority had stood in the way of change which would benefit millions of people.

The row over fluoride in drinking water has gone on for years but now the Government wants to smooth the way for water companies to add the chemical to supplies.

The House of Lords voted for this to happen during the summer.

The problem is that although water companies have had the power to do this since 1985, they have not done so for fear of legal action from consumers opposed to it.

Mr Burnham said: "This new poll shows solid public support for the concept of water fluoridation.

"Take away the nonsense scare stories and bogus science of those opposed to it and I suspect it would be even higher still.

"For far too long, a small letter-writing minority have been allowed to stand in the way of a progressive change that will benefit millions of people - particularly children - in our most deprived communities.

"Tooth decay is almost entirely preventable but still unacceptably high in parts of the country. It is morally wrong that society knows of a safe and effective measure to stop much of this needless suffering and yet doesn't let communities choose it. It's a loophole that must be closed."

There is criticism too from the Green Party and the National Pure Water Association which are stepping up campaigning to mobilise public opposition to fluoridation.

Margaret Wright, the Green Party's principal speaker said: "If people knew that the chemical used in fluoridation is a toxic waste product they'd be horrified.

"But the fluoride that is added to drinking water is hexaflurosilic acid. It comes from the pollution scrubber liquor used to clean chimneys in phosphate fertiliser factories and it's never been safety tested for human consumption.

"Flurosilicates are listed under the 1972 Poisons Act. It's illegal to prescribe them. There is currently an inconsistency in the law in that they can be added to drinking water.

"But if the new Water Bill goes through unamended, strategic health authorities will be able to compel their local water company to fluoridate the supply.

"The Water Bill will require health authorities to consult and ensure a majority of local people are in favour before they fluoridate.

"But this is a matter of medical ethics and it's the standard accepted practice that the patient must have the right to refuse treatment.

"In fact this right is enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights and Medicine - and water fluoridation destroys this right."