§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidelines he has issued to health authorities on the development of local counselling services for carriers of HTLV III virus.
§ Mr. HayhoeHealth authorities were asked on 30 July 1985 to plan for the counselling of people found to be HTLV III antibody positive. The AIDS booklets "General Information for Doctors" and "Information for doctors concerning the introduction of the HTLV III antibody test", issued by the Chief Medical Officer in May and October this year, refer to counselling for seropositive individuals. Copies have been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of haemophiliac patients have so far been tested for HTLV III antibody.
§ Mr. HayhoeMost of those exposed to the greatest risk of HTLV III infection have been tested.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many spouses of haemophiliacs have so far (a) been identified as carriers of HTLV III virus, (b) contracted acquired immune deficiency syndrome and (c) died.
§ Mr. HayhoeComplete figures for the number of spouses of haemophiliacs who may be infected with HTLV III are not held centrally, as all testing of haemophiliacs and their partners is entirely voluntary. Of the 120 known to have been tested to date, five have been found to be HTLV III antibody positive. From reports received by the communicable disease surveillance centre, it is understood that one of these five has contracted AIDS. None has died.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the length, content and intake of courses for training health professionals in the counselling of acquired immune deficiency syndrome sufferers.
§ Mr. HayhoeSt. Mary's hospital Paddington is running a series of two-day courses for health professionals involved in the counselling of people taking the HTLVIII antibody test and those exposed to the AIDS virus. The courses provide up to date information on the AIDS infection and the specialist skills required for related counselling. To date 380 health professionals have been trained and courses for a further 150 people are planned.
As my right hon. Friend announced on 2 December at columns 1–2 in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Chiselhurst (Mr. Sims) a further £100,000 is being provided next year for AIDS counselling training. This money will support counselling courses in addition to those being run by St. Mary's.
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§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give details of the 1986 national information campaign on acquired immune deficiency syndrome; and what agencies will be involved in its planning and execution.
§ Mr. HayhoeI refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Chislehurst (Mr. Sims) on 2 December at columns1–2. The Central Office of Information, Reflexions Ltd (the research company), TBWA (the advertising agency) and the Health Education Council are involved in the planning of the campaign.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer of 2 December, Official Report, column 126, what are the six research projects on acquired immune deficiency syndrome funded by the Medical Research Council; and to which two his Department is contributing money.
§ Mr. HayhoeI understand that the Medical Research Council, which receives grant-in-aid from the science budget of the Department of Education and Science, is currently funding the following six research projects at a total cost of about £431,000.
My Department is contributing a total of £59,000 to Professor Adler's and Dr. Craske's projects.
- 1. Professor M. W. Adler, Dr. R. S. Tedder, (Middlesex hospital medical school) and Dr. Dorothy Crawford (University college, London): an investigation into the immunology and aetiology of AIDS.
- 2. Dr. J. Craske (PHLS, Withington hospital, Manchester): an epidemiological study of the relationship of AIDS in patients with disorders of blood coagulation to its possible acquisition through treatment with blood products.
- 3. Dr. D. J. Jeffries (St. Mary's medical school) and Dr. D. Taylor-Robinson (clinical research centre, Harrow): virological investigations of patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
- 4. Dr. A. J. Pinching (St. Mary's hospital medical school): a study on the killing of intra cellular pathogens by macrophages derived from homosexual males with AIDS and related disorders.
- 5. Professor R. A. Weiss (Institute of Cancer Research, London): retroviruses associated with acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
- 6. Dr. C. A. Ludlam (University of Edinburgh): clinical and immunological study of haemophiliacs treated exclusively with NHS Factor VIII/IX concentrate.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his answer of 2 December, Official Report, column 126, what are the problems concerned with discrimination against carriers of the HTLV III virus which he is considering.
§ Mr. HayhoeExperience in this country, the United States and elsewhere indicates the main problems resulting from discrimination may fall mainly in the areas of insurance, employment and education and they are under consideration by the Government.
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 Number of children in Scotland for whom child benefit was in payment 1,261,400 1,236,750 1,208,800 1,185,150 1,156,550