§ Mr. Michael Forsythasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, further to the answer of Monday 6 April, Official Report, column 107, if he will indicate when this policy on restricting blood donors was implemented; and if he will estimate the anticipated reduction in the number of blood donors.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe policy of restricting potential blood donors in order to reduce the risk of transmitting certain tropical diseases has been in operation for many years. The period during which such donors are asked not to donate blood was extended from six months to 12 months in January 1987.
Precautionary measures against the transmission of AIDS by potential donors who have visited certain parts of Africa were introduced in August 1984. Since then, the number of donors bled has continued to rise and no reduction is expected.