Designed to Smile

The freebie culture/public health agenda* (*delete as appropriate) continues in Welsh politics.

Here's the Welsh Health Minister Edwina Hart launching a new dental scheme for children today: "We intend to work towards every child being provided with free toothbrushes and fluoride toothpaste."

This Edwina Hart may or may not be related to the Edwina Hart who told AMs on November 13 2007: "You made a point about providing free toothbrushes and toothpaste. I happen to believe that there are issues around this, as some children do not know what toothbrushes and toothpastes are, given that they have never been purchased for them. If they were purchased, who would teach the children to use them, if there was no history of brushing your teeth in the family? There are a lot of issues around this."

The programme's called Designed to Smile. The U-turn did make me grin slightly.