HC Deb 24 November 1987 vol 123 cc129-31
8. Miss Lestor

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children have been born suffering from AIDS in the last three years.

Mr. Newton

We have had no reports of any babies diagnosed with AIDS at birth. Since the beginning of 1985 there have been reports of 63 children born in the United Kingdom with antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus. All were born to mothers who were either infected with HIV or at high risk of infection. We do not know in how many of those children the HIV antibodies will persist. There may also have been other babies with HIV who have not been tested and reported.

Miss Lestor

Is the Minister aware that the report of the Select Committee on Social Services goes into some detail about the fact that we do not yet know how AIDS is transmitted to babies, whether it be after birth or during pregnancy? The report makes many recommendations on how money should be spent and research carried out to discover the extent of the problem. When will the hon. Gentleman respond to the recommendations in the report?

Mr. Newton

We hope to respond to the Select Committee's recommendations quite shortly. I shall have in mind the points that the hon. Lady has made.

Mr. Beaumont-Dark

Does my hon. Friend accept that, grievous though the problem of the number of children born suffering from AIDS is, the problem of children born with heart defects is much more serious, as is highlighted by——

Mr. Speaker

Order. The question is about AIDS.

9. Mr. Rowe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will detail the provisions he has made to ensure that social services departments who care for people with AIDS and their carers are properly equipped to fulfil this duty.

Mr. Newton

Social services departments have an important role to play in supporting people with AIDS. An additional £5 million was included in the rate support grant settlement for 1987–88 in recognition of the extra work for local authorities arising from the increase in drug misuse and AIDS. We are currently considering what extra help will be needed next year, particularly for the local authorities with the greatest case loads.

Mr. Rowe

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply, but will he assure me on two points? First, is the money that was put aside reaching the social services departments? It often tends to get sidetracked. Secondly, social services departments that have so far not had large case loads of AIDS seem to be in danger of reinventing the wheel. Will he ensure that departments that have had a lot of experience are able to share it with those that do not

Mr. Newton

I must tell my hon. Friend that, as he is already aware, unless the Government attempt to dictate each and every aspect of local authority expenditure, the amount that is spent on social services depends on the decisions of local authorities. On the latter point, I am hopeful that the reports and co-ordination between different kinds of authorities that are entailed in the AIDS (Control) Act 1987 will contribute to his aim.

Mr. Harry Greenway

Is my hon. Friend aware that there are more cases of AIDS in north-west London, because of the hospital facilities and other facilities there to cope with them? Will he ensure that local authorities and health authorities have the resources that they need to cope with the problem, without penalising other vital services?

Mr. Newton

Of course, North-West Thames has about half the current AIDS cases in England. We have been making extra allocations to it accordingly. There will be further allocations to North-West Thames next year, which I hope to announce shortly. I have also had talks with some local authorities in the relevant parts of London in the hope of finding some way of making appropriate help available to them.