HC Deb 16 November 1987 vol 122 cc437-8W
Sir David Price

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many and what proportion of haemophiliacs in England and Wales are known to be infected with the human immuno-deficiency virus.

England and Wales
Maternal deaths following
Maternal deaths Illegal abortions Legal abortions 1Spontaneous abortion
1955, 1956, 1957 861 91 Nil 50
1958, 1959, 1960 742 82 1 52
1961, 1962, 1963 692 77 5 57
1964, 1965, 1966 579 98 10 25
1967, 1968, 1969 455 74 18 25
19702, 1971, 1972 340 37 28 6
1973, 1974, 1975 227 10 9 5
1976, 1977, 1978 217 4 38 32
1979, 1980, 1981 176 1 45 6
1982 42 n/a 3 n/a
1983 54 n/a 1 n/a
1984 52 n/a 3 n/a
1985 46 n/a 2 n/a
1986 45 n/a Nil n/a

Notes:

1. Figures for 1955 to 1981 are taken from the triennial Reports on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in England and Wales 1976–1978 and 1979–1981.

2. Figures for Maternal Deaths from 1982 to 1986 are taken from OPCS analyses of cause of death and show those deaths relating to Complications of Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Puerperium. These may include deaths later than 42 days after pregnancy or delivery and deaths which after detailed examination are not found to be true maternal deaths.

3. Figures for legal abortions under the 1967 Abortion Act from 1982 to 1986 are taken from OPCS analysis of the abortion notification forms submitted to the Chief Medical Officers of Health for England and Wales. These may include deaths later than 42 days after pregnancy

Mr. Newton

We do not hold this information in the form requested. The returns submitted to the National Haemophilia Centre Directors register at 31 December 1985 showed that there was a total of 7,808 people with haemophilia A, haemophilia B and von Willebrand's disease in the United Kingdom. Only some of those patients registered require regular treatment with blood products.

The most recent figures available show that 1,061 have been reported HIV antibody positive. In addition, there are likely to be other cases and we accept the estimate made by the Haemophilia Society that there may be around 1,200 in total.

Mr. Butler

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce a compensation scheme for haemophiliacs suffering from AIDS as a result of receiving contaminated blood products.

Mr. Michael Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration is being given for compensation to individuals who are HIV positive through the use of infected imported blood products.

Mr. Newton

I refer my hon. Friends to my statement to the House today.