§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest available figure for the number of AIDS sufferers, HIV carriers and hepatitis B carries among the prison population.
§ Mr. MellorThe latest information available is for 24 February, at which date there was no reported case of diagnosed AIDS in the prison population of England and Wales. On the same date the population included 45 inmates reported as having been identified as HIV antibody positive. Corresponding information about current hepatitis B cases is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The latest analysis of the incidence of known cases is for the year ended 31 March 1986 during which 165 acute cases and 295 chronic cases (carriers) were recorded.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the measures taken by his Department to prevent the spread of HIV and hepatitis B in prisons; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorGuidance on the management of hepatitis B cases was issued by the prison department in August 1984 and revised in February 1985. In the latter month the first in a series of memoranda of guidance on the management of AIDS and HIV cases was also issued. The preventive measures taken locally include medical inquiry and examination of all prisoners at the reception stage, clinical investigation in appropriate cases, counselling and health education and the application of precautionary regime restrictions to prisoners known to be infected. The restrictions applied in a particular case are determined by the medical officer in the light of clinical and other factors and the guidance received from the Department.